Atlantic Research Marketing Systems, Inc., B-292743, December 1, 2003

B-292743 Dec 01, 2003 Jump To VIEW DECISION RELATED PAGES GAO CONTACTS Highlights It was inconsistent with the terms of the solicitation for the agency to remove the protester's proposal from consideration for award for allegedly failing to offer certain desired improvements. The Navy determined that each of ARMS's RIS configurations was unacceptable due to operational unsuitability. The special operations peculiar modifications (SOPMOD) system is designed and intended to provide special operations force (SOF) members. The system's core capability is accommodated by a rail interface system. The goal of the miniature day/night sight (MDNS) development effort is to improve on current SOPMOD capabilities through miniaturization. Among the SOPMOD subsystems for which an improved version is sought is the rail interface surface. /1/ The solicitation specified both minimum or threshold (T) requirements and desired or objective (O) requirements for the RIS and other MDNS subsystems. View Decision Atlantic Research Marketing Systems, Inc., B-292743, December 1, 2003 DIGEST Attorneys DECISION Atlantic Research Marketing Systems, Inc. (ARMS) protests the rejection of its proposal for four configurations of a rail interface system (RIS) under request for proposals (RFP) No. N00164-02-R-0014, issued by the Department of the Navy for miniature day/night sight development for the special operations peculiar modifications system. The Navy determined that each of ARMS's RIS configurations was unacceptable due to operational unsuitability. We sustain the protest. The special operations peculiar modifications (SOPMOD) system is designed and intended to provide special operations force (SOF) members, who operate in a wide range of extreme conditions, with the ability to reconfigure their weapons for various mission scenarios rapidly and reliably. The system's core capability is accommodated by a rail interface system, which attaches to the M4A1 carbine and provides attachment points for accessories such as sights and lasers. The goal of the miniature day/night sight (MDNS) development effort is to improve on current SOPMOD capabilities through miniaturization, ruggedization, combination, or other enhancements to existing SOPMOD subsystems. Among the SOPMOD subsystems for which an improved version is sought is the rail interface surface. /1/ The solicitation specified both minimum or threshold (T) requirements and desired or objective (O) requirements for the RIS and other MDNS subsystems. In addition, it identified Key Performance Parameters (KPP) and Additional Performance Parameters (APP). The solicitation described KPPs as "must-pass testing events" and provided that "[a]ny offering failing the (T) value of any of the KPPs will be removed from further testing and will not be considered for contract award." RFP, amend. 5, Sec. 3.1.2. The solicitation described APPs as "tradable parameters . . . used to measure effectiveness and performance," and provided that [f]ailure to meet either (T) or (O) requirement values specified in an APP does not remove a submission from further testing or from consideration for contract award. APPs are evaluated to provide information leading to a best value award determination. Id. Sec. 3.1.3. The solicitation further noted at Sec. 3.1.4 that "KPP (O) values and APP (T) and (O) values are the equivalent of research and development goals." In other words, KPP (T) values represented mandatory features of the solicited subsystems, while KPP (O) values and APP (T) and (O) values represented desired improvements to existing subsystems. The solicitation identified KPP (T) values applying to the RIS as waterproofing (subsection 3.1.2.4) and interoperability (subsection 3.1.2.6). /2/ RFP, addend. 3, at 4. It also identified a list of APPs that applied to the RIS as well as other subsystems; these parameters, which represented desired general improvements to current core capabilities, included improved operational test results (Sec. 3.2.1), improved portability (Sec. 3.2.2), improved corrosion resistance and ease of cleaning and maintenance (Sec. 3.2.3), improved endurance (Sec. 3.2.4), improved reliability (Sec. 3.2.5, Sec. 3.2.20), and improved safety features (Sec. 3.2.6). In addition to the foregoing general APPs, the solicitation identified APPs that represented desired improvements to the RIS specifically. These included a rigid, free-floating barrel design concept (Sec. 3.3.1.5.1.2.1), a method to attach future 6:00 systems /3/ as close as possible to the carbine barrel without touching it or interfering with the natural barrel vibrations during firing (Sec. 3.3.1.5.1.2.2), and, with particular significance for this protest, a method of attaching a grenade launcher with the existing mount or of mounting it free of the carbine barrel through application of "a simple modification plan/modification" (Sec.