West Coast Research Corporation, B-281359; B-281359.2,

West Coast Research Corporation, B-281359; B-281359.2, BNUMBER: B-281359; B-281359.2 DATE: February 1, 1999 TITLE: West Coast Research Corporation, B-281359; B-281359.2, February 1, 1999 ********************************************************************** Matter of:West Coast Research Corporation File:B-281359; B-281359.2 Date:February 1, 1999 H. M. Spivack for the protester. Howard E. Ward for Able Corporation, an intervenor. Capt. Mark D. Pollard, Department of the Air Force, for the agency. C. Douglas McArthur, Esq., and Michael R. Golden, Esq., Office of the General Counsel, GAO, participated in the preparation of the decision. DIGEST 1. Where solicitation required vendors to provide detail sufficient to show compliance with listed salient characteristics of brand name model, determination that protester's quotation, which did not address certain of those characteristics, was technically unacceptable was reasonable and consistent with the solicitation. 2. In procurement conducted under Federal Acquisition Regulation Subpart 12.6, providing streamlined procedures for solicitation and evaluation of commercial items, and Part 13, governing simplified acquisition procedures, where agency determined that the only technically acceptable quotation was unreasonably priced, protest against decision to solicit additional quote for the purpose of expanding competition is denied. DECISION West Coast Research Corporation (WCRC) protests the issuance of a purchase order to Able Corporation under request for quotations (RFQ) No. F05611-98-T-2008, issued by the United States Air Force Academy, for the purchase of equipment to be used in a scientific laboratory. The protester contends that the agency improperly rejected its quotation. We deny the protest. On September 3, 1998, the agency issued the RFQ as a combined synopsis/ solicitation for commercial items--a "sophisticated" five-force one-moment balance, calibration body, and master tape gauge, in accordance with a statement of objectives (SOO), which appeared in a Commerce Business Daily (CBD) notice announcing the solicitation. Air Force Memorandum of Law, Nov. 5, 1998 at 1; CBD Notice dated Sept. 9, 1998 at exhibit 2 to WCRC protest. The agency advised potential vendors that it had prepared the notice in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Subpart 12.6, which prescribes streamlined procedures for the solicitation and evaluation of commercial items. CBD Notice at 1. The notice referenced FAR sec. 52.212-1, Instructions to Offerors--Commercial Items, subparagraph (b)(4) which requires vendors to provide enough detail to evaluate compliance, for example, through the submission of descriptive literature, product samples, or technical features. Page 3 of the notice advised potential vendors that the agency would evaluate technical acceptability and price and make an award based upon the ability of the quoted item to meet requirements of the SOO and price.[1] The notice contained a list of salient characteristics for a 0.5-inch diameter force balance, model 0.75MKXIII, manufactured by the Able Corporation, which represented the "minimum needs" of the government. CBD Notice at 1. The required balance was of a two shell design (floating frame) with the inner shell (rod) being mounted to the wind tunnel sting support and the outer shell (case or sheath) being mounted to the model. That is, a concentric sleeve envelops a rod with sensors and transmits the forces that the model encounters to the sensors; the rod is attached to a "sting," or bolt, attached to the supports. Protester's submission, exhibit 1 to the protest; CBD notice at 1; Able Corporation letter dated Nov. 9, 1998 at 1-2. The listed salient characteristics included general requirements as well as specific requirements for dimensions, rated loads, temperature sensitivity, excitation and sensitivity, interaction, and wiring. CBD Notice at 1-3. In pertinent part, the general requirements stated as follows: Failure of any or all of the force and moment sensing elements shall not cause separation of the model from the balance or sting. . . . [E]ach force and moment sensing element shall be repairable or replaceable by the contractor without replacing the entire set of elements. The load range of the force and moment sensing elements shall be changeable by removing the original elements and replacing any or all of them with elements having a new load range. CBD Notice at 2. Two firms responded prior to the stated closing date of September 18, one with a quotation of the brand name item. The protester quoted a lower price but few details; its quotation principally addressed the protester's experience and expertise in designing wind tunnel balances.