Chenega Federal Systems, LLC

B-414478 Jun 26, 2017 Jump To VIEW DECISION DOWNLOADS RELATED PAGES GAO CONTACTS Highlights Chenega Federal Systems, LLC, of Lorton, Virginia, protests the terms of request for proposals (RFP) No. FA4890-16-R-0040, issued by the Department of the Air Force, to provide the Air Force's 57th Wing aircrew training and courseware development. The protester challenges the Air Force's use of a lowest-priced, technically-acceptable (LPTA) evaluation scheme to obtain the required services, as well as a number of the solicitation provisions that the protester contends were drafted in a manner that favors the incumbent. Chenaga also challenges a number of solicitation provisions as vague and undefined, and claims that this vagueness prevents offerors from competing on a common basis. We deny the protest. We deny the protest. View Decision Decision Matter of:  Chenega Federal Systems, LLC File:  B-414478 Date:  June 26, 2017 Kenneth A. Martin, Esq., The Martin Law Firm, PLLC, for the protester. Captain Justin D. Haselden, and Alexis J. Bernstein, Esq., Department of the Air Force, for the agency. Katherine I. Riback, Esq., and Amy B. Pereira, Esq., Office of the General Counsel, GAO, participated in the preparation of the decision. DIGEST 1.  Protest challenging the agency’s use of a lowest-priced, technically-acceptable evaluation scheme is denied where the record shows that the agency reasonably exercised its judgment in establishing the solicitation’s source selection methodology. 2.  Protest challenging solicitation provisions as favoring the incumbent is denied where there no evidence of preferential treatment or other improper action. DECISION Chenega Federal Systems, LLC, of Lorton, Virginia, protests the terms of request for proposals (RFP) No. FA4890-16-R-0040, issued by the Department of the Air Force, to provide the Air Force’s 57th Wing aircrew training and courseware development.  The protester challenges the Air Force’s use of a lowest-priced, technically-acceptable (LPTA) evaluation scheme to obtain the required services, as well as a number of the solicitation provisions that the protester contends were drafted in a manner that favors the incumbent.  Chenaga also challenges a number of solicitation provisions as vague and undefined, and claims that this vagueness prevents offerors from competing on a common basis.  We deny the protest. BACKGROUND The solicitation was issued on January 25, 2017, as a small business set-aside.  The RFP contemplates the award of a fixed-priced contract with separate line items for cost reimbursable government-directed travel and reproduction for a 1-year base period and four 1-year options in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) parts 12 and 15.  RFP at 78 and 102; Agency Report (AR), Tab C, Source Selection Plan, at 1.[1]  The procurement is a performance based acquisition, fifth generation follow-on effort to procure commercial services for the 57th Wing.  Contracting Officer’s Statement (COS)/ Memorandum of Law (MOL) at 2.  The services to be provided under the solicitation include conducting academic instruction in support of formal course syllabi and training plans at the Air Force Weapons School at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada.  Performance Work Statement (PWS) § 1.5.1.  Additionally, the contractor shall produce, update and review all of the courseware materials required to support academic instruction and flight phases of the training covered under the contract as well as provide an Air Force Weapons School academic/training database.  PWS §§ 1.6, 1.7.6. The RFP incorporated a PWS that identified a variety of tasks to be performed under the contract, and workload estimates.  The RFP states that a contract will be awarded to the responsible offeror whose proposal is technically acceptable and offers the lowest evaluated price.  RFP at 102.  In addition to price, proposals will also be evaluated under a technical factor that is divided into the following four subfactors:  manning requirements and analysis, training management and approach, courseware development approach and instructional systems development plan, and all other plans and contractor-furnished equipment.  Id. at 103.  Subfactors are equal in importance with regard to technical acceptability.  Id.