SuccessTech Management & Services, B-294174, July 6, 2004

B-294174 Jul 06, 2004 Jump To VIEW DECISION DOWNLOADS RELATED PAGES GAO CONTACTS Highlights SuccessTech Management & Services protests the elimination of its proposal from the competition under request for proposals (RFP) No. N62470-03-R-2083, issued by the Department of the Navy for guard services. SuccessTech asserts that the agency's evaluation was flawed. We deny the protest. View Decision B-294174, SuccessTech Management & Services, July 6, 2004 Decision Matter of: SuccessTech Management & Services File: B-294174 Date: July 6, 2004 Sheila Pannell for the protester. Mark R. Gleeman, Esq., Winthrop & Weinstine, for DECO, Inc., an intervenor. Damon Martin, Esq., Naval Facilities Engineering Command, for the agency. Paul E. Jordan, Esq., and John M. Melody, Esq., Office of the General Counsel, GAO, participated in the preparation of the decision. DIGEST Protester's proposed 30-day transition period was inconsistent with material solicitation requirement for contract performance to begin within 15 days of notice of award, and thus rendered proposal unacceptable; remaining protest arguments challenging evaluation of proposal therefore are academic. DECISION SuccessTech Management & Services protests the elimination of its proposal from the competition under request for proposals (RFP) No. N62470-03-R-2083, issued by the Department of the Navy for guard services. SuccessTech asserts that the agency's evaluation was flawed. We deny the protest. The RFP, a 100-percent section 8(a) small business set-aside, sought proposals to provide security guard services at the Norfolk Naval Shipyard and other Navy installations. Proposals were to be evaluated under three technical factors--management/organization, past performance, and financial capability--and price. The RFP contemplated a –best value— award of a fixed-price, indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity contract for a base year, with 4 option years. After an initial evaluation, the agency conducted discussions with SuccessTech; it subsequently found that the firm's revised proposal did not fully correct the identified deficiencies. In the final evaluation, the agency rated SuccessTech's proposal as marginal under the management/organization factor due to the firm's lack of contracts for similar work requirements and due to its proposal of a 30-day phase-in plan, which was inconsistent with the RFP's requirement for a maximum 15'day startup. The agency also rated SuccessTech's proposal as poor under the financial capability factor because the firm's credit report did not contain a credit rating and it failed to produce evidence of a current line of credit, both requirements under the RFP. The agency eliminated SuccessTech's proposal from the competition and the firm then filed this protest. SuccessTech asserts that the evaluation under the management/organization factor was flawed because its proposal and discussion responses were sufficient based on the experience of its key personnel and that of its subcontractor, the incumbent. In addition, it asserts that the RFP did not require phase-in and full operation within 15 days of award. With regard to the financial capability factor, SuccessTech asserts that it submitted all the information it could and that the RFP's requirements for a credit rating and letter of credit represented bias against small businesses (like SuccessTech) that have not been in business long enough to obtain them. In reviewing a protest of an agency's evaluation of proposals, our review is confined to a determination of whether the agency acted reasonably and consistent with the terms of the solicitation and applicable statutes and regulations. United Def. LP, B'286925.3 et al., Apr. 9, 2001, 2001 CPD 75 at 10'11. Here, SuccessTech's proposal failed to meet a material RFP requirement, and therefore was unacceptable. A firm delivery or service commencement date set forth in a solicitation is a material requirement, precluding acceptance of any proposal not offering to meet that date. Hawaiian Tel. Co., B-187871, May 2, 1977, 77'1 CPD 298 at 9. In a negotiated procurement, any proposal that fails to conform to material terms and conditions of the solicitation is unacceptable and may not form the basis for an award. Plessey Elec. Sys. Corp., B'236494, Sept. 11, 1989, 89-2 CPD 226 at 2; Telenet Communications Corp., B'224561, Feb. 18, 1987, 87'1 CPD 181 at 3. The RFP stated that the performance period (contract term) –shall be for a period of 12 months commencing or within 15 days after notice/date of award.— RFP F.2. The RFP's statement of work provided that within –15 calendar days after award, the Contractor shall begin work for the Contract period.— RFP C.9.b. SuccessTech's initial startup plan did not include any identifiable time frames or schedule.