CNA Industrial Engineering, Inc.

B-271034 Jun 07, 1996 Jump To VIEW DECISION RELATED PAGES GAO CONTACTS Highlights Award to an offeror that had expertise/experience with a similar software system but not the Army's software system was an improper relaxation of the RFP's stated minimum requirement. The protester contends that the agency should have rejected GI's proposal as unacceptable because GI did not meet the RFP's minimum qualifications. The primary objective of the system is to provide efficient service to medical center departments that require supply support. The system will allow for the receipt. " as that software system will receive requests for supplies and release orders from the central warehousing system. The system will use several sophisticated computer software programs to keep track of and manage. View Decision Matter of: CNA Industrial Engineering, Inc. File: B-271034 Date: June 7, 1996 * Redacted Decision Where request for proposals (RFP) for an automated storage and retrieval system stated as a minimum requirement that proposals must demonstrate expertise and experience with the Army's information software system, and the agency stated at a preproposal conference that only expertise and experience with the Army's information software system would meet the RFP's minimum requirement, award to an offeror that had expertise/experience with a similar software system but not the Army's software system was an improper relaxation of the RFP's stated minimum requirement. Attorneys DECISION CNA Industrial Engineering, Inc. (CNA) protests award of a fixed-price contract to GeneSys, Inc. (GI) for an automated storage and retrieval system by the Corps of Engineers pursuant to request for proposals (RFP) No. DACA87-95-R-0092. The protester contends that the agency should have rejected GI's proposal as unacceptable because GI did not meet the RFP's minimum qualifications. The protester also contends that the agency improperly downgraded CNA's own proposal during evaluation of proposals. We sustain the protest. Issued on August 15, 1995, as a total small business set-aside by the Corps's Huntsville Division, the RFP solicited proposals for installation and testing of an automated storage and retrieval system at the Brooke Army Medical Center, San Antonio, Texas, and for associated maintenance and training services. The primary objective of the system is to provide efficient service to medical center departments that require supply support; thus, the system will allow for the receipt, storage, distribution, and re-ordering of medical supplies, linens, and pharmaceutical supplies. The RFP contemplated award of a contract to a single source for turn-key installation of a complete, integrated system comprised of three subsystems--a material distribution subsystem for medical supplies, a linen subsystem and a pharmacy subsystem. The RFP specified that the automated storage and retrieval system and each of the subsystems must interface with the Army's informational software system, known as "TAMMIS," as that software system will receive requests for supplies and release orders from the central warehousing system. The system's components include inventory management software and hardware, automated equipment, controls, system interfacing, debugging software, training, and implementation. The system will use several sophisticated computer software programs to keep track of and manage, among other things, purchasing, inventory, accounting, and management data applications; an elaborate interfacing software program will also be required to integrate the separate subsystems into one complete system. The closing date for submission of initial proposals was November 17, 1995, and only CNA and GI submitted proposals by that date. Both offers were included in the competitive range, and written discussions were conducted with both offerors. Best and final offers (BAFO) were received and evaluated as follows: CONSENSUS SCORE OFFEROR (TECHNICAL/MANAGEMENT) PRICE CNA [DELETED] [DELETED] GI [DELETED] [1] [DELETED] The evaluators determined that GI's proposal had [DELETED]. The contracting officer, however, determined that CNA's BAFO was [DELETED]. On January 25, 1996, the contracting officer awarded the contract to GI. A debriefing conference was held with CNA on February 1, and this protest was filed in our Office shortly thereafter. The Corps issued a stop work order to GI pending our decision on the protest. The protester contends that GI's proposal should have been rejected as unacceptable because GI does not satisfy the RFP's requirement for offerors to have extensive expertise with the Army's TAMMIS system and for offers to state at least one site where the offeror gained TAMMIS interface experience. The protester also contends that the Corps unreasonably downgraded CNA's proposal regarding [DELETED]. The agency acknowledges that GI does not have TAMMIS expertise or experience.