Bannum Inc.

B-412045 Nov 25, 2015 Jump To VIEW DECISION DOWNLOADS RELATED PAGES GAO CONTACTS Highlights Bannum, Inc., of Odessa, Florida, protests the award of a contract to Greenbrier Medical Group, Inc., of Hillsboro, West Virginia, under request for proposals (RFP) No. RFP-200-1228-ES, issued by the Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Prisons, for a Residential Reentry Center (RRC) with Mothers and Infants Nurturing Together (MINT) services. Bannum argues that the agency improperly evaluated its proposal and made an improper best-value tradeoff decision. We deny the protest. We deny the protest. View Decision 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:  Bannum Inc. File:  B-412045 Date:  November 25, 2015 Nancy M. Camardo, Esq., Joseph A. Camardo, Jr., Esq., and Justin T. Huffman, Esq., Camardo Law Firm, PC, for the protester. Sarah Bloom, Esq., and William D. Robinson, Esq., Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Prisons, for the agency. Robert T. Wu, Esq., and Tania Calhoun, Esq., Office of the General Counsel, GAO, participated in the preparation of the decision. DIGEST Protest that contracting agency improperly evaluated protester’s proposal and made an improper best-value tradeoff decision is denied where the record shows that the evaluation, and the tradeoff decision based on that evaluation, was reasonable. DECISION Bannum, Inc., of Odessa, Florida, protests the award of a contract to Greenbrier Medical Group, Inc., of Hillsboro, West Virginia, under request for proposals (RFP) No. RFP-200-1228-ES, issued by the Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Prisons, for a Residential Reentry Center (RRC) with Mothers and Infants Nurturing Together (MINT) services.  Bannum argues that the agency improperly evaluated its proposal and made an improper best-value tradeoff decision. We deny the protest. BACKGROUND The RFP, issued on August 7, 2013, sought a contractor to provide an RRC with MINT services for female federal offenders in the vicinity of the Federal Prison Camp in Alderson, West Virginia.  The facility will house pregnant female inmates and/or female inmates who have recently given birth.  For up to three months after birth, MINT participants will be housed in this RRC with their infants.  If, after three months, time remains on an inmate’s sentence, the infant will be placed in the custody of relatives or foster care while the inmate completes her sentence.  RFP Statement of Work (SOW), at 109.  The intent of MINT services is to promote maternal bonding and parenting skills in a “home-like” environment.  Id. The RFP anticipated the award of an indefinite-delivery, requirements-type contract with fixed unit prices for a 2-year base period and up to three 1-year option periods.  RFP at 3-4.  Award was to be made to the offeror whose proposal was in the best interest of the government considering three evaluation areas:  past performance, technical/management, and price.  RFP at 37.  Past performance was more important than the technical/management area; both areas, when combined, were significantly more important than price.  Id.  The two non-price areas were to be rated exceptional, very good, satisfactory, marginal, or unsatisfactory.[1]  RFP Amendment No. 005 at 10.  Proposal risk assessment ratings were to be made in connection with the technical/management area and its factors.[2]  RFP at 39. The only evaluation area at issue here is technical/management and the underlying programs factor.[3]  Under this factor, the agency was to evaluate: the quality and effectiveness of the offeror’s plan for assessing the individual needs of each offender to assist their reentry into the community.  This includes an evaluation of the offeror’s programs for assisting with employment and housing, and developing improved life skills to include, but not limited to, money management, parenting and family reunification.  This factor also includes an evaluation of the offeror’s understanding of and ability to leverage and network with other relevant community resources in order to offer a more comprehensive and robust support structure for the offender. RFP at 39. The agency received offers from Bannum and Greenbrier, the incumbent contractor, by the December 20, 2013, closing date.  After an initial evaluation, the contracting officer included both offers in the competitive range.  The agency conducted discussions with both firms, and evaluated a series of final proposal revisions.  The final evaluation results were as follows:   Bannum Greenbrier Past Performance Very Good Very Good Technical/Management Site Location Accountability Programs Facility Personnel Satisfactory/Low Risk Satisfactory/Low Risk Very Good/Low Risk Satisfactory/Low Risk Satisfactory/Low Risk Very Good/Low Risk Very Good/Low Risk Very ...