B-299781, Healthcare Technology Solutions International, July 19, 2007

B-299781 Jul 19, 2007 Jump To VIEW DECISION DOWNLOADS RELATED PAGES GAO CONTACTS Highlights Healthcare Technology Solutions International (HTSI) protests the establishment of a blanket purchase agreement (BPA) with United Audit Systems, Inc. (UASI) under that firm's Federal Supply Schedule (FSS) contract, pursuant to request for quotations (RFQ) No. VA-528-07-RQ-0059, issued by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Syracuse, New York, for off-site medical coding services for the Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) 2 for upstate New York. The protester asserts that the agency's evaluation of quotations and selection at UASI's quotation for the establishment of the BPA were unreasonable. We deny the protest. View Decision B-299781, Healthcare Technology Solutions International, July 19, 2007 Decision Matter of: Healthcare Technology Solutions International File: B-299781 Date: July 19, 2007 Samuel P. Fye for the protester. Dennis Foley, Esq., and Phillipa L. Anderson, Esq., Department of Veterans Affairs, for the agency. John L. Formica, Esq., and James A. Spangenberg, Esq., Office of the General Counsel, GAO, participated in the preparation of the decision. DIGEST Agency reasonably selected higher-rated quotation under competitive procurement under Federal Supply Schedule program where price difference between the protester's and awardee's quotations was insignificant. DECISION Healthcare Technology Solutions International (HTSI) protests the establishment of a blanket purchase agreement (BPA) with United Audit Systems, Inc. (UASI) under that firm's Federal Supply Schedule (FSS) contract, pursuant to request for quotations (RFQ) No. VA-528-07-RQ-0059, issued by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), New York, for off-site medical coding services for the Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) 2 for upstate New York. [1] The protester asserts that the agency's evaluation of quotations and selection of UASI's quotation for the establishment of the BPA were unreasonable. We deny the protest. The RFQ sought quotations for –medical coding services to be provided off-site (remotely) for coding (data validation and/or coding prior to bills being released) as needed.— RFQ at 2. The solicitation informed vendors that –fluctuations in workload are expected based on the needs of VISN 2,— and that the successful vendor will –provide all labor, materials, off-site computer equipment and supervision necessary to perform coding audits and retrospective review of [certain] outpatient encounters.— RFQ at 2-3. The RFQ provided that access to the VISN 2 database –will be via VPN (VA Virtual Private network) through ISP (Internet Service Provider),— and that –[t]here are currently no restrictions on the ISP that may be used for this access.— RFQ at 3. The solicitation added that the successful vendor's employees –requiring computer access— would be subject to a –background investigation and must receive a favorable adjudication from the VA Office of Security and Law Enforcement.— RFQ at 3-4. The solicitation added here that the successful vendor's employees would be required to sign a specified VA –form before access codes are issued,— and –undergo a New Employee/user information Security Awareness Orientation session and complete the annual Cyber Security on-line Course— prior to contract performance. RFQ at 3-4. The solicitation provided for the establishment of a BPA from the –date of award . . . through February 29, 2008 with the option to renew for an additional year.— RFQ at 2. Vendors were instructed to –submit a detailed technical proposal,— which addressed the following evaluation criteria, listed in descending order of importance: Experience and past performance with VA Contracts [40 points]. Knowledge of [Veterans Health Administration] Coding practices [25 points]. Knowledge of Quadramed/DSS Pro Fee Compliance Suite Software [20 points].[2] Credentials of employees [based upon certain specified coding] certifications [18 points]. Plan to complete work within 72 hours from the date made available to the contractor [15 points]. Confirm employees have high speed internet access [5 points]. Confirm employees have One-VA VPN access [2 points]. RFQ at 4-5; Agency Report (AR), Tabs 4 and 5, Technical Evaluation of HTSI's and UASI's Proposals.[3] Vendors were also requested to complete a price schedule by inserting unit and total prices based upon the agency's estimates of the coding services to be required. RFQ at 2. The agency received quotations from four vendors, including UASI and HTSI, and the quotations were forwarded to a technical evaluation team for review. AR at 3. UASI's quotation received a total of 113 out of 125 points under the technical evaluation criteria, with a unit price of $4.25 for the base and option periods and a total evaluated price of $365,500. AR, Tab 3, UASI's Quotation, at 2; Tab 6, Evaluation Summary.