Janus Global Operations, LLC

B-414569.8 Nov 21, 2017 Jump To VIEW DECISION DOWNLOADS RELATED PAGES GAO CONTACTS Highlights Janus Global Operations, LLC, of Lenoir City, Tennessee, protests the issuance of a task order to SOC LLC, of Chantilly, Virginia, under request for task order proposals (RFTOP) No. SAQMMA16R0643, issued by the Department of State (DOS) for security services at the Baghdad Diplomatic Support Center (BDSC) in Iraq. Janus challenges DOS's evaluation of Janus' staffing plan and the agency's best-value tradeoff determination. 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 version has been approved for public release. Decision Matter of:  Janus Global Operations, LLC File:  B-414569.8 Date:  November 21, 2017 Devon E. Hewitt, Esq., and Michael E. Stamp, Esq., ProTorae Law PLLC, for the protester. James J. McCullough, Esq., Michael J. Anstett, Esq., and Anayansi Rodriguez, Esq., Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP, for SOC LLC, the intervenor. Kathleen D. Martin, Esq., Department of State, for the agency. Alexander O. Levine, Esq., and Jennifer D. Westfall-McGrail, Esq., Office of the General Counsel, GAO, participated in the preparation of the decision. DIGEST 1.  Protest alleging that agency unreasonably failed to recognize several positive aspects of protester's proposal as strengths is denied where protester fails to demonstrate that the agency's evaluation was unreasonable. 2.  Protest alleging that agency's best-value tradeoff determination failed to meaningfully consider whether the advantages of the protester's proposal were worth its higher price is denied where the agency reasonably concluded that the protester's proposal did not provide the agency with technical advantages worth the payment of a price premium. DECISION Janus Global Operations, LLC, of Lenoir City, Tennessee, protests the issuance of a task order to SOC LLC, of Chantilly, Virginia, under request for task order proposals (RFTOP) No. SAQMMA16R0643, issued by the Department of State (DOS) for security services at the Baghdad Diplomatic Support Center (BDSC) in Iraq.  Janus challenges DOS's evaluation of Janus' staffing plan and the agency's best-value tradeoff determination. We deny the protest. BACKGROUND The solicitation, which was issued on June 16, 2016, contemplated the issuance of a task order under DOS's worldwide protective services II (WPS II) indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract for a broad range of security services at the BDSC.  Contracting Officer's Statement (COS) at 1.  Such services include personal protection, static guards, and emergency response teams used to ensure the life, safety, and security of chief of mission personnel and facilities at the BDSC. The RFTOP provided for the evaluation of proposals under seven technical subfactors:  (1) staffing plan, (2) mobilization and transition plan, (3) training management plan, (4) logistics and property management and accountability plan, (5) key personnel, (6) management approach, and (7) risk management plan.  RFTOP § M at 2.[1]  The first three subfactors were to be "of equal level of importance, but significantly higher than [subfactors] 4, 5, 6, and 7."  Id.   When combined, the non-price factors were to be significantly more important than price.  Id. Regarding price, the solicitation contained both fixed-price and cost-reimbursable line items, but stated that the cost-reimbursable items would not be evaluated for purposes of award.  RFTOP § M at 3.  With regard to the fixed-price line items, the RFTOP contemplated that each offeror's overall total fixed price would be evaluated for fairness and reasonableness.  Id. With regard to the staffing plan requirement, the RFTOP instructed offerors to provide a staffing plan that included a staffing requirement analysis, a recruitment plan, a plan for acquiring and managing required canines, a candidate screening plan, and a retention plan.  RFTOP § L at 4-5. The solicitation also provided an "overarching evaluation approach for all factors and subfactors" that anticipated the evaluation of both the adequacy of each offeror's response and the feasibility of the proposed approach.  RFTOP § M at 1.  To determine the "adequacy of response," the agency would evaluate the extent that the proposal addresses the RFTOP requirements including whether the proposed methods and approach adequately and completely considered, defined, and satisfied the solicitation requirements.  Id.  To determine feasibility, the agency would evaluate "the extent to which the proposed approach is feasible and the end results achievable," with the agency examining "the extent to which the offeror is expected to be able to complete the proposed tasks and technical requirements successfully within the required schedule."  Id. In July 2017, DOS received six proposals in response to the solicitat...