Which part of FAR establishes guidelines for protests of contract awards?

The guidelines for protests of contract awards are established in Part 33 of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR). This part specifically addresses the requirements and procedures for submitting protests related to the award of government contracts. It outlines the different types of protests, including those to the Government Accountability Office (GAO) and agency-level protests, providing a framework for contractors to contest awards they believe were not conducted in accordance with the law or regulations.

In contrast, Part 15 of FAR deals with the contracting by negotiation process, particularly for competitive acquisition approaches. Part 17 focuses on special contracting methods, such as indefinite delivery contracts, while Part 12 pertains to commercial item acquisition. While each of these parts plays a vital role in the contracting process, only Part 33 specifically addresses the issue of protests related to contract awards, which is why it is the correct answer in this context.