BOSH Global Services

B-413115 Aug 11, 2016 Jump To VIEW DECISION DOWNLOADS RELATED PAGES GAO CONTACTS Highlights UAV Communications, Inc., d/b/a BOSH Global Services (BOSH), of Newport News, Virginia, protests the award of a contract to Novetta Solutions Corporation (Novetta), of Reston, Virginia, under request for proposals (RFP) No. W904TE-16-R-0004, issued by the Department of the Army for architect-engineering services in support of the Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) information exploitation architecture and development systems. BOSH asserts that the agency unreasonably evaluated its proposal. 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:  BOSH Global Services File:  B-413115 Date:  August 11, 2016 Milton C. Johns, Esq., Fluet Huber & Hoang, PLLC, for the protester. Kyle R. Jefcoat, Esq., David R. Hazelton, Esq., and Heather A. Blakeman, Esq., Latham & Watkins LLP, for Novetta Solutions Corporation, the intervenor. Wade L. Brown, Esq., U.S. Army Materiel Command, for the agency. Mary G. Curcio, Esq., and Laura Eyester, Esq., Office of the General Counsel, GAO, participated in the preparation of the decision. DIGEST Protest that agency improperly applied unstated evaluation criteria in evaluating protester’s proposal is denied where the record demonstrates that the agency’s evaluation was reasonable and consistent with the stated criteria. DECISION UAV Communications, Inc., d/b/a BOSH Global Services (BOSH), of Newport News, Virginia, protests the award of a contract to Novetta Solutions Corporation (Novetta), of Reston, Virginia, under request for proposals (RFP) No. W904TE-16-R-0004, issued by the Department of the Army for architect-engineering services in support of the Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) information exploitation architecture and development systems.  BOSH asserts that the agency unreasonably evaluated its proposal.  We deny the protest. BACKGROUND The Army issued the RFP on February 22, 2016, for the award of a requirements contract to support the JSOC, which provides Special Operations Forces (SOF) with interoperable equipment, systems, tools, and capabilities in support of global operations in peacetime and war.  RFP at 3; Performance Work Statement (PWS) at 2.[1]  Specifically, the solicitation sought a contractor to provide the following five functional areas of support to the JSOC:  (1) engineering analysis and integration of an operations and intelligence cycle framework, PWS § 4.1; (2) engineering analysis and integration of a processing, exploitation and dissemination (PED) framework, PWS § 4.2; (3) engineering analysis and integration of a mission command framework, PWS § 4.3; (4) engineering analysis and integration of a virtual comprehension framework, PWS § 4.4; and, (5) acquisition management support across each framework, PWS § 4.5.  PWS at 3-6. The solicitation provided for award on a best-value basis based on an evaluation of the following four factors:  (1) information exploitation PWS technical approach; (2) past performance; (3) information exploitation sample task order PWS technical approach (sample task order technical approach); and (4) price.  RFP at 5.  The information exploitation technical approach factor was significantly more important than the past performance factor, which was more important than both the sample task order technical approach and price (which were equal) factors.  Id. at 6.  The technical factors combined were significantly more important than price.  Id.  The solicitation stated that the government intended to evaluate proposals and make award on the basis of initial proposals without holding discussions.  Id. at 5. The agency received proposals from BOSH and Novetta and evaluated them as follows:   BOSH Novetta Information Exploitation Technical Approach Marginal Outstanding Past Performance Limited Confidence Substantial Confidence Sample Task Order Technical Approach Marginal Outstanding Price $6,611,634 $10,750,585 Agency Report (AR), Tab K, Source Selection Decision Document (SSDD), at 2.[2]  The agency performed a best-value trade-off analysis, determined that Novetta’s proposal was “far superior overall when compared to BOSH’s proposal,” did not identify “any performance benefits that justify B[OSH]’s lower prices,” and selected Novetta for award.  Id.