Qi Tech, LLC (N00178-17-R-3058)

B-416711.10 Apr 16, 2020 Jump To FULL REPORT VIEW DECISION RELATED PAGES GAO CONTACTS Highlights Qi Tech, LLC, a small disadvantaged business of McLean, Virginia, protests the issuance of a task order to Tatitlek Technologies, Inc., of Anchorage, Alaska, under request for proposals (RFP) No. N0017817R3058, issued by the Department of the Navy (Navy) for administrative and clerical support services for the Navy's Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division (NSWCDD), Dahlgren, Virginia. Our Office previously sustained Qi Tech's protest challenging the agency's prior selection of Tatitlek. Qi Tech, LLC, B-416711.8, B-416711.9, Nov. 27, 2019, 2019 CPD ¶ 412. Qi Tech challenges the agency's reevaluation of Tatitlek's proposal and selection decision. 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:  Qi Tech, LLC File:  B-416711.10 Date:  April 16, 2020 John R. Tolle, Esq., and H. Todd Whay, Esq., Baker, Cronogue, Tolle & Werfel, LLP, for the protester. Richard B. Oliver, Esq., and J. Matthew Carter, Esq., Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP, for Tatitlek Technologies, Inc., the intervenor. Candice A. Thomas, Esq., Department of the Navy, for the agency. Young H. Cho, Esq., and Peter H. Tran, Esq., Office of the General Counsel, GAO, participated in the preparation of the decision. DIGEST Protest challenging the agency’s reevaluation of the awardee’s proposal is denied where the record shows that the agency’s reevaluation was reasonable, consistent with the solicitation, and documented. DECISION Qi Tech, LLC, a small disadvantaged business of McLean, Virginia, protests the issuance of a task order to Tatitlek Technologies, Inc., of Anchorage, Alaska, under request for proposals (RFP) No. N0017817R3058, issued by the Department of the Navy (Navy) for administrative and clerical support services for the Navy’s Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division (NSWCDD), Dahlgren, Virginia.  Our Office previously sustained Qi Tech’s protest challenging the agency’s prior selection of Tatitlek.  Qi Tech, LLC, B-416711.8, B-416711.9, Nov. 27, 2019, 2019 CPD ¶ 412.  Qi Tech challenges the agency’s reevaluation of Tatitlek’s proposal and selection decision. We deny the protest. BACKGROUND The RFP was issued on August 10, 2017, pursuant to Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) subpart 16.5, to 8(a) small business[1] holders of Navy SeaPort-e indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contracts.[2]  Agency Report (AR), Tab 1, RFP at 4; Contracting Officer’s Statement/Memorandum of Law (COS/MOL) at 2.  The RFP required, in general terms, the contractor to provide qualified personnel to successfully perform all specified administrative and clerical support tasks.  RFP, Statement of Work (SOW) §§ C.2, C.4.[3]  The solicitation contemplated the issuance of a cost-plus-fixed-fee, level-of-effort task order for a base year with four 1-year options on a best-value tradeoff basis considering the following factors in descending order of importance:  recruitment and retention of personnel (recruitment/retention); scenario; management capability; workforce; past performance; and cost.  RFP at 111. Eight offerors, including Qi Tech and the incumbent, Tatitlek, submitted proposals by the initial solicitation closing date.[4]  The agency evaluated proposals, established a competitive range (which included Qi Tech and Tatitlek), conducted discussions, and requested final proposal revisions (FPR).  The contracting officer, acting as the source selection authority (SSA), selected Qi Tech’s higher technically rated, higher-priced proposal for award on July 19, 2018.  Qi Tech, supra at 2-3.   Tatitlek filed a protest with our Office challenging the Navy’s evaluation of proposals and selection decision, which was docketed as B-416711.  On November 28, our Office issued a decision denying Tatitlek’s initial protest and three of the supplemental protests that were subsequently filed.  Tatitlek Techs., Inc., B-416711 et al., Nov. 28, 2018, 2018 CPD ¶ 410.  Tatitlek’s fourth and final supplemental protest challenged the evaluation of Qi Tech’s technical and cost proposals with regard to the RFP’s paid sick leave requirement.  Qi Tech, B-416711.8, B-416711.9, supra at 3.  Our Office conducted a hearing on these issues on December 18.  After the hearing, the Navy notified our Office on December 21 that it intended to take corrective action by reevaluating Qi Tech’s technical and cost proposals, and making a new award decision.  We dismissed the remaining supplemental Tatitlek protest as academic.  Tatitlek Techs., Inc., B‑416711.5, Jan.