Future Technologies Consulting Group, Inc.

B-412390 Dec 15, 2015 Jump To VIEW DECISION DOWNLOADS RELATED PAGES GAO CONTACTS Highlights Future Technologies Consulting Group, Inc. (FTCG), of Marietta, Georgia, protests the Department of Defense's issuance of a task order to Inflexion Management Sciences, LLC, of Silver Spring, Maryland, under Inflexion's Federal Supply Schedule contract, pursuant to request for quotations (RFQ) No. SP4701-15-Q-3020, for the upgrade of cellular services at the Defense Logistics Agency's (DLA) Headquarters Complex (HQC) in Fort Belvoir, Virginia. The protester asserts that the agency unreasonably evaluated FTCG's quotation as unacceptable. We deny the protest. We deny the protest. View Decision Decision Matter of:  Future Technologies Consulting Group, Inc. File:  B-412390 Date:  December 15, 2015 Robert Stoutenburgh, for the protester. Shantay N. Clarke, Esq., Department of Defense, for the agency. Kenneth Kilgour, Esq., and David A. Ashen, Esq., Office of the General Counsel, GAO, participated in the preparation of the decision. DIGEST Protest challenging agency’s evaluation of protester’s quotation as unacceptable is denied where the record shows that the agency’s evaluation was reasonable and in accordance with the evaluation criteria. DECISION Future Technologies Consulting Group, Inc. (FTCG), of Marietta, Georgia, protests the Department of Defense’s issuance of a task order to Inflexion Management Sciences, LLC, of Silver Spring, Maryland, under Inflexion’s Federal Supply Schedule contract, pursuant to request for quotations (RFQ) No. SP4701-15-Q-3020, for the upgrade of cellular services at the Defense Logistics Agency’s (DLA) Headquarters Complex (HQC) in Fort Belvoir, Virginia.  The protester asserts that the agency unreasonably evaluated FTCG’s quotation as unacceptable. We deny the protest. BACKGROUND  The solicitation, set aside for small businesses, sought quotations for the issuance of a single fixed-price task order, with a period of performance of approximately 180 days, to the firm whose proposal offered the lowest-priced, technically-acceptable proposal,[1] based on an evaluation of technical approach, past performance, and price.  RFQ at 2, 6, 16.  The contractor would be required to upgrade existing cellular coverage equipment to provide 4G/LTE network coverage for all cell carriers, as well as install additional coverage throughout the HQC facility.  The RFQ advised offerors that: The proposal must demonstrate to the Government’s satisfaction that the vendor is able to provide services that will ensure the successful accomplishment of the tasks outlined in the Statement of Work.  The Government will evaluate the vendors on the basis of the information presented in the written proposal.  However, the Government may use information other than that provided by the vendor in its evaluation, including market research. RFQ at 16. Only proposals evaluated as acceptable under the two technical factors would be considered for award.  Id.  As relevant to this protest, an acceptable proposal was defined as one that “clearly meets the minimum requirements of the solicitation,” while an unacceptable proposal “does not clearly meet the requirements of the solicitation.”  Contracting Officer’s Negotiation Memorandum/Award Decision Document (CONM/ADD) at 2. The agency developed an independent government cost estimate (IGCE) for use in evaluating proposals.  In response to a sources sought notice, four vendors provided estimated budgets for hours and parts.  Those responses are summarized in the table below: Item Vendor 1 (FTCG) Vendor 2 Vendor 3 Vendor 4 Labor $606,367.48 $740,000.00 $347,000.00 $380,706.15 Parts $205,181.65 $260,000.00 $380,000.00 $418,338.67 Shipping $24,254.70       TOTAL $835,803.83 $1,000,000.00 $727,000.00 $799,044.82 IGCE at 2.