Chadwick-Helmuth Company, Inc., B-279621.2, August 17, 1998

B-279621.2 Aug 17, 1998 Jump To VIEW DECISION RELATED PAGES GAO CONTACTS Highlights DIGEST Solicitation requirement that commercial off-the-shelf computer indicator power supply (CIPS) operate all the agency's existing test program specific software is unduly restrictive. The CIPS is a computer that is a key component of the Navy's vibration analysis test set (VATS). The VATS is an aircraft maintenance system used on Navy and Marine Corps rotary wing and fixed wing aircraft to perform vibration analysis on certain moving mechanical components on the aircraft in order to track and balance those components. Were designed and developed by Dynamic Instruments. Was to procure a commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) single self-contained automated test instrument to replace the current CIPS. View Decision Matter of: Chadwick-Helmuth Company, Inc. File: B-279621.2 Date: August 17, 1998 DIGEST Attorneys DECISION Chadwick-Helmuth Company, Inc. protests as unduly restrictive the terms of request for proposals (RFP) No. N68335-98-Q-0058, issued by the Department of the Navy, Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, Lakehurst, New Jersey, for a computer indicator power supply (CIPS) to replace the current CIPS model. We sustain the protest. The CIPS is a computer that is a key component of the Navy's vibration analysis test set (VATS). The VATS is an aircraft maintenance system used on Navy and Marine Corps rotary wing and fixed wing aircraft to perform vibration analysis on certain moving mechanical components on the aircraft in order to track and balance those components. Along with the CIPS, the VATS includes, among other things, an accelerometer, an optical tachometer, an optical sensing unit, and a remote control unit. In order to perform the vibration analyses, the CIPS collects and processes signals from other VATS components by operating the individual test program specific (TPS) software for the various makes of aircraft. The TPS software incorporates and implements the procedures and instructions to be followed by Navy and Marine Corps maintenance personnel in collecting and analyzing data for individual aircraft, and the necessary corrective action to repair the aircraft. The VATS, including the current CIPS and TPS software, were designed and developed by Dynamic Instruments, Inc. The RFP, issued on January 29, 1998, was to procure a commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) single self-contained automated test instrument to replace the current CIPS. RFP, Attachment 1, Performance Specification for Vibration Analysis Test Set-Computer Indicator Power Supply, Sec. 1.0. The RFP contemplated the award of an indefinite-quantity, indefinite-delivery contract for a minimum of 27 units and a maximum of 267 units over a 5-year period. RFP Schedule and amend. 0001, at 2. The award was to be made to the lowest priced, technically acceptable offer on a pass/fail basis, considering the technical requirements identified in the performance specification incorporated in the RFP. See RFP Sec. 52.212-2 Evaluation-Commercial Items (Tailored). Section 1.0 of the Performance Specification states that the "COTS automated test instrument shall use all of the existing VATS ancillaries, with possible exception of the Printer/Disk Drive Unit . . . and add a minimum of new ancillary equipment to the existing VATS ancillaries," and that the "COTS automated test instrument shall also use all the existing VATS procedures that are defined within this document (aircraft specific software) and resolve any system performance conflicts from the existing VATS CIPS . . . to the replacement CIPS." Section 1.1 states that the "scope of this technical performance specification is the requirement for a COTS Automated Test Instrument to replace the VATS CIPS that would use all the existing VATS ancillaries: Accelerometers[,] Cables[,] Kits of aircraft specific adapters[,] Optical Tachometer and Magnetic Interrupter[,] Optical Sensing Unit[,] Printer/Disk Drive Unit[,] Remote Control[, and] Software." Section 3.9 identifies the TPS aircraft specific software that will execute on the CIPS as 15 items of TPS software (identified by specific aircraft, VATS software part number, VATS software version and date) and a specific calibration disk. The RFP also states, in pertinent part, that the government "shall use one of the aircraft specific software of choice in paragraph 3.9 of the Performance Specification" for the preproduction testing. RFP, Addendum to FAR 52.212-4, Preproduction Testing Requirement, Para. (c). Further, the Preproduction Tests provision of the RFP states, in pertinent part, that the "preproduction tests shall demonstrate compliance to the Performance Specification in the areas of Sensors (accelerometer, tachometer, optical sensing unit), Cables identified in the Performance Specification . . .