A bidder may protest when it believes the owner broke the bid rules. One example is an award to a bidder whose bid was not responsive.
The bid documents or the public agency's rules set the procedure. Deadlines are usually short and strict.
Read the protest procedure before bid day, not after. Keep your own bid file complete, with proof of delivery time.
A protest is a legal step. Talk to a construction attorney in your state before you file one.