Enhanced Veterans Solutions, Inc.

B-414189.2 Jul 25, 2017 Jump To VIEW DECISION DOWNLOADS RELATED PAGES GAO CONTACTS Highlights Enhanced Veterans Solutions, Inc. (EVS), of Springfield, Virginia, a small business, protests the issuance of a Federal Supply Schedule (FSS) task order to Focused Management, Inc. (FMI), of Alexandria, Virginia, also a small business, under request for quotations (RFQ) No. CFP-16-Q-00032, issued by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) for information technology support services at CFPB offices in Washington, D.C., New York City, Chicago, and San Francisco. EVS argues that the CFPB misevaluated FMI's quotation and made an unreasonable source selection 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:  Enhanced Veterans Solutions, Inc. File:  B-414189.2 Date:  July 25, 2017 Wayne A. Keup, Esq., Wayne A. Keup, PLLC, for the protester. Tenley A. Carp, Esq., Samauel M. Shapiro, Esq., and Sara M. Lord, Esq., Arnall Golden Gregory LLP, for Focused Management, Inc., the intervenor. Angela T. Puri, Esq., and Kevin J. Rice, Esq., Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, for the agency. Paul N. Wengert, Esq., and Tania Calhoun, Esq., Office of the General Counsel, GAO, participated in the preparation of the decision. DIGEST Protest that agency misevaluated awardee's and protester's quotations, and unreasonably selected lower-priced, lower-rated quotation for award of Federal Supply Schedule task order is denied where evaluation and source selection decision were reasonable and consistent with evaluation criteria in solicitation.  DECISION Enhanced Veterans Solutions, Inc. (EVS), of Springfield, Virginia, a small business, protests the issuance of a Federal Supply Schedule (FSS) task order to Focused Management, Inc. (FMI), of Alexandria, Virginia, also a small business, under request for quotations (RFQ) No. CFP-16-Q-00032, issued by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) for information technology support services at CFPB offices in Washington, D.C., New York City, Chicago, and San Francisco.[1]  EVS argues that the CFPB misevaluated FMI's quotation and made an unreasonable source selection decision.  We deny the protest.  BACKGROUND The CFPB posted the RFQ on the General Services Administration (GSA) e-Buy electronic portal as a service-disabled veteran-owned small business (SDVOSB) set-aside,[2] seeking quotations from FSS contractors under special item No. 132-51 (information technology professional services) of Schedule 70 (the general purpose commercial information technology equipment, software, and services schedule).  The RFQ anticipated the issuance of a single hybrid fixed-price/labor-hour task order[3] to provide services for a 2-month transition period, a 10-month base period, and four option years.[4]  RFQ amend. 5 at 2 (explanation of revised pricing spreadsheet).  The required services were described as service desk support (which was divided into 37 task requirements), asset and inventory management services (17 task requirements), and special projects.  Id. at 14-21 (statement of requirements).  The CFPB was to issue the order to the FSS vendor whose quotation provided the best value based on an evaluation of price and three non-price factors, listed in descending order of importance:  technical approach/transition strategy, staffing plan/key personnel, and experience.  RFQ amend. 5 at 75-76.  The non-price factors, when combined, were to be significantly more important than estimated price, but "as factors become closer in rating between offerors," price was to become more important.  Id. at 75.  Under the technical approach/transition strategy factor, the CFPB was to evaluate the vendor's ability to "provide a complete and integrated solution," including whether the vendor's approach would accomplish the RFQ requirements, and the vendor's identification of risks and mitigation strategies.  Id. at 75.  Under the staffing plan/key personnel factor, the CFPB was to evaluate the vendor's staffing plan to assess whether the firm would provide effective management and staffing to accomplish the RFQ objectives without lapses in service, and whether the proposed key personnel met or exceeded the qualifications specified in the RFQ.  Id.  Under the experience factor, the CFPB was to assess whether the vendor had recent and relevant experience.  Id. at 76.  As noted above, the RFQ stated that the FSS order would use a hybrid of fixed pricing and labor hour pricing, and stated that pricing of special projects, when required, would be negotiated.  RFQ amend. 5 at 14-21.  For the base period and option years, the RFQ required vendors to fill in an electronic spreadsheet with hourly pricing of an estimated 32 full-time positions distributed among 11 labor categories.  Id.