Trend Western Technical Corporation, B-275395.2, April 2,

B-275395.2 Apr 02, 1997 Jump To VIEW DECISION RELATED PAGES GAO CONTACTS Highlights Lower-rated offer was reasonable and consistent with the solicitation evaluation criteria which provided that all factors. Were significantly more important than price. Where the protester's proposed staffing levels were reasonably found to be low and insufficient. The RFP stated: "Three evaluation areas will be considered: technical. Technical and Management Areas are considered equal in importance and are significantly more important than cost or price. Are significantly more important than cost or price. Even though cost is less important. It will by necessity bear considerable effect on the source selection decision.". The listed evaluation factors were Computer Support and Operations. View Decision Matter of: Trend Western Technical Corporation File: B-275395.2 Date: April 2, 1997 * Redacted Decision DIGEST Attorneys DECISION Trend Western Technical Corporation protests the award of a contract to TECOM, Inc. under request for proposals (RFP) No. F05604-96-R-9006, issued by the Department of the Air Force, for base supply and vehicle operation and maintenance in support of Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado Springs, Colorado. Trend Western objects to the evaluation of its proposal and the agency's best-value award determination. We deny the protest. The RFP, issued April 23, 1996, contemplated the award of a fixed-price contract on a best value basis to the offeror whose proposal best satisfied the specified requirements in light of the RFP's evaluation criteria. To this effect, the RFP stated: "Three evaluation areas will be considered: technical, management and price. Technical and Management Areas are considered equal in importance and are significantly more important than cost or price. All evaluation factors other than cost or price, when combined, are significantly more important than cost or price. Even though cost is less important, it will by necessity bear considerable effect on the source selection decision." Under the Technical area, the listed evaluation factors were Computer Support and Operations, Vehicle Maintenance, Supply Fuels Management, and Vehicle Operations; the first two technical factors were said to be equal in importance, while the other technical factors were equally important but less important than the first two factors. Under the Management area, the factors, listed in descending order of importance, were Functional Management, Personnel, and Quality Control Program. Regarding the personnel factor, the RFP advised offerors that "[t]he [g]overnment would assess the offeror's soundness of approach and understanding of the requirement to satisfying the staffing and key personnel qualification requirements necessary for performance" of the contract. The RFP also provided that offerors' proposals would be evaluated for proposal risk and performance risk under the technical and management evaluation areas and factors. [1] Cost/Price was to be evaluated for completeness, realism, and reasonableness. The Air Force received six proposals by the June 10 closing date for receipt of proposals. Three proposals, including TECOM's and Trend Western's, were included in the competitive range. Discussions were conducted, and best and final offers (BAFO) were received on September 6. Trend Western submitted the lowest-priced BAFO of $28,505,240, which the agency rated green/acceptable with low proposal risk for all of the technical and management factors except Personnel, which received a yellow/marginal rating with a moderate proposal risk because the proposed staffing was found to be "low" in all areas with "insufficient manning to perform some supply functions." Trend Western's performance risk for both the technical and management areas was rated low. TECOM submitted the second low-priced BAFO of $31,565,631, which was rated green/acceptable with low proposal risk for all of the technical and management factors, and with low performance risk for the technical and management areas. The third proposal received identical ratings to those received by TECOM, but was higher priced. In making the best value award determination, the agency found no significant strengths/weaknesses distinguishing the three proposals under the technical and management factors, except under the personnel factor. The agency rated Trend Western's BAFO yellow/marginal with a moderate proposal risk under the personnel factor because, even after the agency raised its concern about Trend Western's low staffing during discussions, Trend Western's BAFO reflected "low staffing in all areas and insufficient manning to adequately perform the supply function." Specifically, the agency noted: "Trend Western proposed [DELETED] personnel below the government estimate in computer support and operations (based on workload provided).