Metrica, Inc.

Metrica, Inc. BNUMBER: B-270086; B-270086.2 DATE: February 8, 1996 TITLE: Metrica, Inc. ********************************************************************** REDACTED DECISION A protected decision was issued on the date below and was subject to a GAO Protective Order. This version has been redacted or approved by the parties involved for public release.. Matter of:Metrica, Inc. File: B-270086; B-270086.2 Date:February 8, 1996 Joseph D. Gebhardt, Esq., and Steven B. Schwartzman, Esq., for the protester. James S. Phillips, Esq., and Barbara S. Kinosky, Esq., for Kajax Engineering, Inc., the intervenor. Jane H. Talley, Esq., Department of Agriculture, for the agency. John L. Formica, Esq., and Guy R. Pietrovito, Esq., Office of the General Counsel, GAO, participated in the preparation of the decision. DIGEST Award to the offeror submitting the more technically advantageous, higher-priced proposal was reasonable where it was consistent with the solicitation's evaluation scheme and the agency reasonably determined that the documented technical advantages of the awardee's higher-priced proposal outweighed the price advantage of the protester's proposal. DECISION Metrica, Inc. protests the award of a contract to Kajax Engineering, Inc., under request for proposals (RFP) No. 00-95-1015BB, issued by the Department of Agriculture for on-site automated data processing support services at the National Computer Center in Kansas City, Missouri, the National Finance Center in New Orleans, Louisiana and the Washington Service Center in Washington, D.C. Metrica challenges the agency's evaluation of its and Kajax's proposals, and the agency's selection of Kajax's higher-priced proposal for award. We deny the protest. The RFP, issued as a competitive set-aside under section 8(a) of the Small Business Act, 15 U.S.C. sec. 637(a) (1994), provided for the award of a firm, fixed-price requirements contract for a base period of 1 year with four 1-year options. The RFP informed offerors that proposals would be evaluated for compliance with certain "mandatory standards" contained in the solicitation, such as "qualify[ing] as a firm participating in the 8(a) program" under the relevant standard industrial code, and compliance with applicable Department of Labor wage determinations. The RFP also listed the following technical evaluation factors and subfactors: Factor 1.Corporate Experience Subfactor A.Recent Past Experience Subfactor B.Corporate Background, Organization, and Stability Subfactor C.Recruitment, Employee Development, and Stability Factor 2. Technical Approach Subfactor A.Understanding the requirements of the solicitation Subfactor B.Management Coordination and the Authority Delegated to the Lead Operators Subfactor C.Problem Resolution Subfactor D.Staffing and Operational Plan Subfactor E.Transition Plan Subfactor F.Quality Assurance The solicitation informed offerors that factors 1 and 2 were equal in importance, and that within factor 1, subfactor A was equal in importance to subfactors B and C combined. The RFP further provided that within factor 2, subfactors A and B were equal to each other, subfactors C and F were equal to each other, and subfactors D and E were equal to each other, and that subfactors A and B combined were slightly more important than subfactors C through F combined. The RFP provided for the award of a contract to the offeror whose proposal offered the greatest value to the agency, cost and other factors considered, and stated that "[t]echnical factors will have a slightly higher weight than cost and other factors in making the award decision." The RFP requested the submission of a technical proposal, and a cost and business proposal, and provided detailed instructions for the submission of proposals. The agency received five proposals, including Metrica's and Kajax's, by the RFP's closing date of June 30, 1995. The proposals of Metrica and Kajax were included in the competitive range, discussions conducted, and best and final offers (BAFO) received. Kajax's BAFO received an overall score of 1,597.5 out of 1,800 total points at a price of $8,233,133.[1] Metrica's BAFO received an overall score of 1,370.5 points at a price of $7,279,713. The agency determined that Kajax's proposal represented the best value based on technical and price considerations, and made award to that firm.