Worldwide Language Resources, Inc., B-281541, January 26,

B-281541 Jan 26, 1999 Jump To VIEW DECISION RELATED PAGES GAO CONTACTS Highlights Requirement that contractor be accredited is unobjectionable where the requirement is reasonably related to facilitating the agency's achievement of its language training and readiness objectives and where the requirement is in accord with the agency's regulation. The protester contends that inclusion of this clause is unduly restrictive and overstates the agency's needs. The accreditation is neither divisible or transferable. The agency explains in its administrative report that the inclusion of the accreditation clause in the RFP was based on the United States Army Special Operations Command (USASOC) Regulation No. 350-22. Accreditation is neither divisible nor transferable. A non-accredited institution or organization does not gain accredited status solely because of an affiliation or arrangement with an accredited institution. /1/ The protester basically argues that the accreditation clause is unduly restrictive and overstates the agency's needs because language instructional services are currently being provided to the government by firms which are not accredited. View Decision Matter of: Worldwide Language Resources, Inc. File: B-281541 Date: January 26, 1999 DIGEST Attorneys DECISION Worldwide Language Resources, Inc. protests the inclusion of an academic accreditation clause in request for proposals (RFP) No. DAKF06-98-R-0020, issued by the Department of the Army for foreign language education services at Fort Carson, Colorado and other out-of-state and foreign locations. The protester contends that inclusion of this clause is unduly restrictive and overstates the agency's needs. We deny the protest. The RFP requires the contractor to provide foreign language training to, among others, special forces and military intelligence personnel. The RFP further requires the contractor to provide administrative support, materials preparation/adaptation (computer assisted instruction, translation services, and pre-service training for foreign language instructors), and instructional services as outlined in the RFP's performance work statement. RFP Sec. C.1.1.2.1. The RFP included the following accreditation clause: The Contractor must be accredited by either a regional or national accrediting association recognized by the American Council on Education. The accreditation is neither divisible or transferable. RFP Sec. C.1.5. The agency explains in its administrative report that the inclusion of the accreditation clause in the RFP was based on the United States Army Special Operations Command (USASOC) Regulation No. 350-22, USASOC Command Language Program, paragraph 4-2(d) (Apr. 9, 1993), which provides as follows: The contractor shall be accredited. Accreditation is neither divisible nor transferable. A non-accredited institution or organization does not gain accredited status solely because of an affiliation or arrangement with an accredited institution. /1/ The protester basically argues that the accreditation clause is unduly restrictive and overstates the agency's needs because language instructional services are currently being provided to the government by firms which are not accredited. The protester contends that simply following a regulation does not reasonably explain the agency's need for the accreditation requirement as contained in the RFP. Procuring agencies, not our Office, are in the best position to determine their needs and how best to accommodate them, and we therefore will not object to agency determinations in these respects unless they are shown to be unreasonable. Lionhart Group, Ltd., B-257715, Oct. 31, 1994, 94-2 CPD Para. 170 at 3. An accreditation requirement is not unduly restrictive where it bears a reasonable relationship to the services to be performed. Id.; School for Educ. Enrichment, B-199003, Oct. 16, 1980, 80-2 CPD Para. 286 at 4. An agency may reasonably determine that accreditation, including the review process accreditation requires, contributes to an effective program of instruction by promoting and maintaining program quality. School for Educ. Enrichment, supra, at 4-5. Here, paragraph 1-6 of USASOC Regulation 350-22 explains that the USASOC Command Language Program is: designed to initiate, maintain and/or increase the language proficiency of those personnel who are required to perform the world-wide multi-discipline missions of USASOC. It is imperative that USASOC soldiers be prepared to function during peacetime and wartime missions. Thus, identification of the assets which are most critical to the accomplishment of the USASOC mission in peace and war is the first step in establishing an effective Command Language Program. Soldiers must be able to function independently, competently, and professionally. Paragraph 1-7 of USASOC Regulation 350-22 continues by listing the following five training principles: a.