Visual Connections, LLC

B-416759 Dec 04, 2018 Jump To VIEW DECISION DOWNLOADS RELATED PAGES GAO CONTACTS Highlights Visual Connections, LLC, of Milford Mill, Maryland, protests the issuance of a task order to CollabraLink Technologies, Inc., of McLean, Virginia, under request for proposals (RFP) No. CMS-18-181403, issued by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for support services for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Visual Connections contends that the awardee has organizational conflicts of interest (OCI) that HHS failed to recognize and consider in evaluating proposals. Visual Connections also challenges the agency's evaluation of its proposal. 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:  Visual Connections, LLC File:  B-416759 Date:  December 4, 2018 Barbara S. Kinosky, Esq., David R. Warner, Esq., Tyler J. Freiberger, Esq., and Heather B. Mims, Esq., Centre Law and Consulting, LLC, for the protester. David B. Dixon, Esq., Robert A. Starling, Esq., and Meghan D. Doherty, Esq., Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP, for Collabralink Technologies, Inc., the intervenor. Lucy G. Mac Gabhann, Esq., Department of Health and Human Services, for the agency. Mary G. Curcio, Esq., and Laura Eyester, Esq., Office of the General Counsel, GAO, participated in the preparation of the decision. DIGEST 1.  Protest is denied where the contracting officer gave meaningful consideration to whether awardee had an impaired objectivity organizational conflict of interest and there is no clear evidence in the record that the agency’s conclusion was unreasonable.  2.  Protest challenging agency’s evaluation of protester’s proposal is denied where evaluation was reasonable and consistent with the evaluation criteria.  DECISION Visual Connections, LLC, of Milford Mill, Maryland, protests the issuance of a task order to CollabraLink Technologies, Inc., of McLean, Virginia, under request for proposals (RFP) No. CMS-18-181403, issued by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for support services for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).  Visual Connections contends that the awardee has organizational conflicts of interest (OCI) that HHS failed to recognize and consider in evaluating proposals.  Visual Connections also challenges the agency’s evaluation of its proposal.  We deny the protest. BACKGROUND CMS’ Medicaid program and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) have engaged in an enterprise-wide initiative, referred to as the Medicaid and CHIP Business Information Solutions (MACBIS), to update the agency’s infrastructure and technology and ensure it is commensurate with the programs’ roles in the evolving health care delivery marketplace.  Agency Report (AR), Tab 4c, MACPro ConOps, §3.1 at 5.  MACBIS is comprised of four business areas called pillars, each of which is covered by a separate award--Medicaid and CHIP System Program (MACPro); operational; financial; and pharmacy.  Id.  There is an overall systems integrator for the four MACBIS pillars.  The current systems integrator is New Wave Telecom and Technologies (New Wave).  The solicitation here was issued under CMS’ Strategic Partners Acquisition Readiness multiple-award indefinite-delivery, indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contract for the issuance of a task order to assist the agency with the design, development, implementation, and operation and maintenance of MACPro.  AR, Tab 4b, RFP, amend. 2, att. J-3, at 2, 4.  MACPro is a system of records that contains the agreements between CMS and the States for operation of the Medicaid and CHIP programs.  AR, Tab 4b, Statement of Objectives (SOO), app. 1 at 5.  The States submit proposals to amend their programs through MACPro.  AR, Tab 4c, MACPro Concept of Operations (ConOps), §3.2(1) at 5.  The Center for Medicaid and CHIP Services (CMCS) and the regional CMS officer adjudicate the proposals within MACPro, and the resulting amended plans or waivers are the public record of the currently approved State programs.  Id.  The purpose of the current procurement is to streamline the State proposed amendment (SPA) process in partnership with the States by accelerating the development of SPA functionality within MACPro.  AR, Tab 4b, SOO, at 1.  Among other things, the agency seeks to make the approval process less burdensome for States; improve the process to fast track waivers and demonstrations already approved in another State; increase the velocity of development deliverable output by up to three times the standard development life cycle; and accelerate development to allow CMS to expedite the transition of legacy systems.  Id.