Dee Monbo, CPA

B-412820 May 23, 2016 Jump To VIEW DECISION DOWNLOADS RELATED PAGES GAO CONTACTS Highlights Dee Monbo, CPA, of Owings Mills, Maryland, protests the issuance of a purchase order to Calhoun International, LLC, of Tampa, Florida, under request for quotations (RFQ) No. NAAA0600-15-00270, issued by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) for an international affairs specialist to assist NOAA's Office of International Affairs. Dee Monbo complains that the agency unreasonably evaluated the awardee's and the protester's proposals. We deny the protest. We deny the protest. View Decision Decision Matter of:  Dee Monbo, CPA File:  B-412820 Date:  May 23, 2016 Dee Monbo, CPA, for the protester. John S. Vento, Esq., Trenman Law, for Calhoun International, LLC, the intervenor. John Guinan Jr., Esq., National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, for the agency. Mary G. Curcio, Esq., and Cherie J. Owen, Esq., Office of the General Counsel, GAO, participated in the preparation of the decision. DIGEST Protest that agency unreasonably evaluated protester’s technical proposal is denied where protester did not demonstrate that proposed specialist had capability with respect to the solicitation’s subject matter. DECISION Dee Monbo, CPA, of Owings Mills, Maryland, protests the issuance of a purchase order to Calhoun International, LLC, of Tampa, Florida, under request for quotations (RFQ) No. NAAA0600-15-00270, issued by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) for an international affairs specialist to assist NOAA’s Office of International Affairs.  Dee Monbo complains that the agency unreasonably evaluated the awardee’s and the protester’s proposals.  We deny the protest. The solicitation, which was set aside for small businesses, advised potential vendors that NOAA was seeking an international affairs specialist whose areas of expertise are such that he or she can provide critical assistance to the Office of International Affairs.[1]  RFQ, Part 2, Statement of Work at ¶  2.0.  The solicitation noted that NOAA works closely with other federal agencies and scientific organizations in the U.S. and around the world to execute its mission to understand and predict changes in climate, weather, oceans, coasts, and space, and to share that knowledge and information with others.  Id. at ¶ 1.0.  The RFQ further explained that NOAA partners with many organizations around the world in pursuit of scientific research and the dissemination of its knowledge to the general public.  Id.  The successful offeror will be required to, among other things, perform analytical and evaluative work related to the development of international policy for a suite of oceanic and/or atmospheric issues; participate and lead as appropriate, interagency and international working groups/task forces representing policies, objectives, and decisions by NOAA leadership; ensure close coordination and cooperation among federal agencies, stakeholders, and congressional staff; establish and maintain effective working relationships with leadership, technical and scientific advisors, and all levels of external individuals and groups gaining cooperation and support and acceptance of issues, initiatives or other matters; develop policy statements for inclusion in U.S. position papers for international meetings, briefing materials, and related documents for use within NOAA and federal agencies, ensuring that all positions are clearly communicated, and considered; and write, review, and approve a myriad of actions, briefings, controlled correspondence, leadership messages, speeches, press releases, testimony, and routing reports for NOAA, the Department of Commerce, and the White House relating to international agreements, policies, and regulations.  Id. at ¶ 3.0. The solicitation provided for the issuance of the purchase order on a best-value basis, based on an evaluation of technical, past performance, and price factors.  RFQ, Part 11, Evaluation.  The agency received 14 quotations.  Contracting Officer’s Statement at 1.  Dee Monbo’s quotation was rated unacceptable under the technical factor and neutral for past performance, and as a result, Dee Monbo’s quotation was not considered eligible for award of the purchase order.[2]  RFQ  at 3, 4.  Calhoun’s quotation, which was among three considered technically acceptable, was rated good for the technical and past performance factors.  Id.  The agency performed a best value trade-off among the three acceptable quotations and chose Calhoun’s quotation at a price of $199,577.60.  Id.