CSI Aviation, Inc.

B-415631.2 Feb 07, 2018 Jump To VIEW DECISION DOWNLOADS RELATED PAGES GAO CONTACTS Highlights Presidential Aviation, Inc., of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, protests the rejection of its quotation as technically unacceptable by the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), under request for quotations (RFQ) No. HSCECR-17-Q-00005, for air charter services. The protester alleges that the evaluation of its quotation was unreasonable and contrary to the terms of the RFQ. We deny the protest. We deny the protest. View Decision Decision Matter of:  Presidential Aviation, Inc. File:  B-415631.2 Date:  February 7, 2018 Diana Lentz, for the protester. Robert K. Tompkins, Esq., and Rodney M. Perry, Esq., Holland & Knight, LLP, for Classic Air Charter, Inc., the intervenor. Cassandra Maximous, Esq., and Kasey Podzius, Esq., Department of Homeland Security, for the agency. Eric M. Ransom, Esq., and Edward Goldstein, Esq., Office of the General Counsel, GAO, participated in the preparation of the decision. DIGEST Protestor's challenge to agency's evaluation of its quotation as technically unacceptable is denied where the record shows that the agency's evaluation was reasonable and consistent with the terms of the solicitation. DECISION Presidential Aviation, Inc., of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, protests the rejection of its quotation as technically unacceptable by the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), under request for quotations (RFQ) No. HSCECR-17-Q-00005, for air charter services.  The protester alleges that the evaluation of its quotation was unreasonable and contrary to the terms of the RFQ. We deny the protest. BACKGROUND ICE issued the RFQ via the General Services Administration (GSA) e-Buy system on June 14, 2017, to all vendors on GSA travel solutions schedule contract 599, under special item number (SIN) category 599-4 "Air Charter Services--Owner Operated," and SIN 599-5 "Air Charter Services--Brokers."  The RFQ anticipated issuance of a single order for air charter services for a 1-year base period and four 1-year option periods.  The RFQ explained that the agency would issue the order on a best-value tradeoff basis considering three evaluation factors:  technical capability, past performance, and price.  Between the three factors, technical capability was significantly more important than past performance, and the two non-price factors, when combined, were significantly more important than price.  Additionally, the RFQ provided that the technical capability factor consisted of three subfactors in descending order of importance:  technical approach/quality assurance surveillance plan (QASP), corporate experience, and key personnel. As relevant here, the RFQ performance work statement (PWS) set forth two primary requirements:  daily scheduled larger aircraft (DSLA) and special high-risk charter aircraft (SHRC).  With respect to the DSLA requirement, the PWS explained that the vendor was required to provide 10 aircraft capable of transporting a minimum of 148 passengers, with a minimum range of 2,000 nautical miles, exclusively available to the agency Monday through Friday, 52 weeks per year.  The RFQ instructions provided that, under the technical approach/QASP subfactor, the vendors "shall supply/address" multiple documentation requirements for the DSLA aircraft, including a requirement to "[p]rovide copies of required insurance and liability and hull insurance coverage."  Agency Report (AR), Tab 3, RFQ Amendment 1, at 42-43.