B-298941; B-298941.2, ITS Services, Inc., January 10, 2007

B-298941; B-298941.2, ITS Services, Inc., January 10, 2007 TITLE: B-298941; B-298941.2, ITS Services, Inc., January 10, 2007 BNUMBER: B-298941; B-298941.2 DATE: January 10, 2007 ********************************************************** B-298941; B-298941.2, ITS Services, Inc., January 10, 2007 DOCUMENT FOR PUBLIC RELEASE The decision issued on the date below was subject to a GAO Protective Order. This redacted version has been approved for public release. Decision Matter of: ITS Services, Inc. File: B-298941; B-298941.2 Date: January 10, 2007 William L. Walsh, Jr. Esq., J Scott Hommer, Esq., Keir X. Bancroft, Esq., and Peter A. Riesen, Esq., Venable LLP, for the protester. Paul B. Oman, Esq., Department of Homeland Security, for the agency. Paula A. Williams, Esq., and Glenn G. Wolcott, Esq., Office of the General Counsel, GAO, participated in the preparation of the decision. DIGEST Protest challenging the issuance of a task order to a higher technically rated, higher-priced vendor is denied where the solicitation provided that technical merit was more important than price and where the agency record provides a reasonable basis for the award decision. DECISION ITS Services, Inc., a subsidiary of Apogen Technologies, Inc. (hereinafter, referred to as "Apogen") protests the issuance of a task order to Bart and Associates, Inc. (Bart) under request for quotations (RFQ) No. HSBP10-06-Q-0724, issued by the Department of Homeland Security, Customs and Border Protection (CBP), for technical and engineering services to support CBP's Office of Information and Technology (OIT). Apogen, which submitted a lower-priced quotation, protests the evaluation of quotations and the resulting selection decision. We deny the protest. BACKGROUND The OIT is responsible for the design, development, programming, testing, implementation and maintenance of CBP's automated information systems. OIT's Program Integration Division provides architecture and engineering guidance and services to CBP. The Architecture & Engineering Branch (AEB), one of four Program Integration Division branches, provides architecture, network and systems engineering, and data management services, in collaboration with the program offices, to develop and implement OIT products. The Integration Services Branch (ISB) is one of several teams in the AEB. The ISB is responsible for identifying and evaluating new infrastructure and information technology (IT) solutions for application to the CBP automated systems, and performs application testing with regard to leading-edge innovative technologies that reduce development time and maintenance cost of IT to facilitate the execution of the CBP mission. ISB manages and maintains the Integration Laboratory (ILab) and the Open Systems Laboratory (OSL), which are mock versions of the CBP network infrastructure. RFQ, Statement of Work (SOW), at 1 (July 18, 2006). The procurement here is to acquire technical and support services for ISB to assist in modernizing and/or improving the CBP enterprise architecture, and to operate and maintain an engineering environment, that is, laboratories and necessary equipment.[1] RFQ, SOW, at 2-3 (July 18, 2006). With regard to contract performance, the SOW set forth specific tasks to be performed, including: Task 1 -- Operate and maintain OSL and ILab. Under this task, the contractor shall provide a combination of highly skilled technical and administrative personnel that shall operate synergistically to operate and maintain the CBP's OSL and ILab. Task 2 -- Conduct IT technology research and studies. Under this task, the contractor shall provide a combination of highly skilled technical and administrative personnel that shall operate synergistically to conduct required IT technology research and studies. RFQ, SOW, at 3 (July 18, 2006). In June 2006, the CBP issued the RFQ to vendors holding General Services Administration Federal Supply Schedule (FSS) contracts for IT services. The RFQ contemplated issuance of a labor-hour task order for a base-year period and two 1-year option periods, and provided that the task order would be issued on the basis of the quotation representing the best value to the government. The solicitation established the following factors to be considered in determining best value: I. Technical Factors A. Technical Capabilities & Management Approach 1. Understanding of the work, including thoroughness shown in understanding the objectives of the SOW and specific tasks, and planned execution of the project. 2. Evidence of specific methods and techniques for completing each discrete task, to include such items as quality assurance, and customer service. B.