---
kind: "section"
citation: "41 U.S.C. § 3708"
title: "41"
title_heading: "Public Contracts"
number: "3708"
heading: "Protests"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/41/3708"
units:
  - "Subtitle I — Federal Procurement Policy"
  - "Division C — Procurement"
  - "Chapter 37 — Awarding of Contracts"
---

# §3708. Protests

- (a) **Protest File.—**
  - (1) **Establishment and access.—** If, in the case of a solicitation for a contract issued by, or an award or proposed award of a contract by, the head of an executive agency, a [protest](/usc/41/2101.md?p=6) is filed pursuant to the procedures in subchapter V of [chapter 35](/usc/31/chstIII/ch35.md) of title 31, and an actual or prospective offeror requests, a file of the [protest](/usc/41/2101.md?p=6) shall be established by the procuring activity and reasonable access shall be provided to actual or prospective offerors.
  - (2) **Redacted information.—** Information exempt from disclosure under [section 552 of title 5](/usc/5/552.md) may be redacted in a file established pursuant to [paragraph (1)](#a-1) unless an applicable protective order provides otherwise.
- (b) **Agency Actions on Protests.—** If, in connection with a [protest](/usc/41/2101.md?p=6), the head of an executive agency determines that a solicitation, proposed award, or award does not comply with the requirements of law or regulation, the head of the executive agency may—
  - (1) take any action set out in subparagraphs (A) to (F) of subsection (b)(1) of [section 3554 of title 31](/usc/31/3554.md); and
  - (2) pay costs described in paragraph (1) of [section 3554(c) of title 31](/usc/31/3554.md?p=c) within the limits referred to in [paragraph (2)](/usc/31/3554.md?p=c-2) of section 3554(c).

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 111–350, § 3, Jan. 4, 2011, 124 Stat. 3773.)

## Notes

| Historical and Revision Notes |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Revised<br>Section | Source (U.S. Code) | Source (Statutes at Large) |
| 3708(a) | 41:253b(k). | June 30, 1949, ch. 288, title III, § 303B(k), formerly § 303B(h), as added Pub. L. 103–355, title I, § 1065, Oct. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 3269; redesignated as § 303B(k), Pub. L. 104–106, title XLI, § 4104(b)(2), Feb. 10, 1996, 110 Stat. 645; Pub. L. 104–106, title XLI, § 5607(c), Feb. 10, 1996, 110 Stat. 701, as amended Pub. L. 104–201, title X, § 1074(b)(7) (less effective date), Sept. 23, 1996, 110 Stat. 2660. |
| 3708(b) | 41:253b(l). | June 30, 1949, ch. 288, title III, § 303B(l), formerly § 303B(i), as added Pub. L. 103–355, title I, § 1066, Oct. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 3269; redesignated as § 303B(l), Pub. L. 104–106, title XLI, § 4104(b)(2), Feb. 10, 1996, 110 Stat. 645. |