Lukos, LLC

B-416343.2 Aug 13, 2018 Jump To VIEW DECISION DOWNLOADS RELATED PAGES GAO CONTACTS Highlights Lukos, LLC, an 8(a) small business located in Tampa, Florida, protests the award of a contract to Wittenberg Weiner Consulting, LLC (WWC), an 8(a) small business located in Lutz, Florida, by the United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) under request for proposals (RFP) No. H92222-18-R-0001 for subject matter experts (SMEs) and services to support USSOCOM's Enterprise Wide Training and Exercise Program (UEWTEP) II. The protester challenges the agency's evaluation and award 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:  Lukos, LLC File:  B-416343.2 Date:  August 13, 2018 Matthew T. Schoonover, Esq., Matthew P. Moriarty, Esq., Shane J. McCall, Esq., and Stephan L. Skepnek, Esq., Koprince Law, LLC, for the protester. Paul R. Hurst, Esq., Fred Geldon, Esq., and Caitlin Conroy, Esq., Steptoe & Johnson LLP, for Wittenberg Weiner Consulting, LLC, the intervenor. Jason R. Smith, Esq., and Alexis J. Bernstein, Esq., Department of the Air Force, for the agency. Nora K. Adkins, Esq., and Amy B. Pereira, Esq., Office of the General Counsel, GAO, participated in the preparation of the decision. DIGEST Challenge to agency’s evaluation of proposals and award decision is denied where the evaluation and award decision were reasonable and consistent with the stated evaluation criteria. DECISION Lukos, LLC, an 8(a) small business located in Tampa, Florida, protests the award of a contract to Wittenberg Weiner Consulting, LLC (WWC), an 8(a) small business located in Lutz, Florida, by the United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) under to request for proposals (RFP) No. H92222-18-R-0001 for subject matter experts (SMEs) and services to support USSOCOM’s Enterprise Wide Training and Exercise Program (UEWTEP) II.[1]  The protester challenges the agency’s evaluation and award decision. We deny the protest. BACKGROUND The agency issued the RFP on December 29, 2017, pursuant to the procedures of Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) part 15 as a total 8(a) small business set-aside.  RFP at 1, 11.  The solicitation contemplated the award of a single indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) labor hour contract with fixed-priced labor hour rates and a 5‑year period of performance.[2]  Id. at 50; 59.  The RFP provided for award on a best‑value basis considering four factors listed in descending order of importance:  management and transition (management); past and present performance (past performance); training; and price/cost.[3]  Id. at 56.  The non‑price/cost factors, when combined, were significantly more important than price/cost.  Id. at 51. The agency received ten timely proposals in response to the solicitation by January 31, 2018.  The source selection evaluation board (SSEB) evaluated the proposals, and on March 2, the source selection authority (SSA) established a competitive range of three offerors, including Lukos and WWC.  Agency Report (AR), Tab 9, SSEB Report, at 2.  The agency entered into discussions with the competitive range offerors and requested final proposal revisions (FPRs).  Id.  On March 27, all three offerors submitted FPRs.  Id. at 3.  The SSEB evaluated the FPRs and arrived at the following ratings for Lukos and WWC:   Lukos WWC Management Purple/Good Purple/Good Training Purple/Good Blue/Outstanding Past Performance Substantial Confidence Substantial Confidence Total Evaluated Price $158,931,277 $161,763,848 Id. at 35.  In reaching the assigned ratings, the SSEB found Lukos’ proposal contained five strengths; no weaknesses, significant weaknesses, or deficiencies; and the risk of unsuccessful performance was low to moderate for both the management and training factors.  AR, Tab 11, SSEB Evaluation Lukos, at 2-4.  WWC’s proposal was assigned nine strengths; no weaknesses, significant weaknesses, or deficiencies; and the risk of unsuccessful performance was low to moderate for the management factor and low for the training factor.  AR, Tab 10, SSEB Evaluation WWC, at 2-5. The SSEB provided its consensus evaluation report to the source selection advisory committee (SSAC).  AR, Tab 12, SSAC Report, at 2.  The SSAC conducted a comparative analysis of the proposals and made an award recommendation to the SSA.  Id.