IPKeys Technologies, LLC

B-416873.2,B-416873.3 Apr 05, 2019 Jump To FULL REPORT VIEW DECISION RELATED PAGES GAO CONTACTS Highlights IPKeys Technology, LLC ( IPKeys), of Stafford, Virginia , protests the issuance of a task order to By Light Professional IT Services, LLC (By Light), of Arlington, Virginia, by the Department of Defense (DOD), Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA), under request for proposals (RFP) No. GSMETI00032, for secure systems engineering and evolution support for the Defense Information System Network (DISN). IPKeys challenges the agency's evaluation of proposals and its 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: IPKeys Technologies, LLC File: B-416873.2; B-416873.3 Date: April 5, 2019 Paul F. Khoury, Esq., Brian G. Walsh, Esq., Sarah B. Hansen, Esq., Wiley Rein LLP, for the protester. Damien C. Specht, Esq., R. Locke Bell, Esq., and James A. Tucker, Esq., Morrison & Foerster LLP, for By Light Professional IT Services LLC, the intervenor. Vera A. Strebel, Esq., and Anthony J. Balestreri, Esq., Defense Information Systems Agency, for the agency. Lois Hanshaw, Esq., and Christina Sklarew, Esq., Office of the General Counsel, GAO, participated in the preparation of the decision. DIGEST 1. Protest challenging agency's evaluation of technical proposals is denied where the record establishes that the evaluation was reasonable and consistent with the solicitation evaluation criteria. 2. Protest against an agency's cost-realism analysis of the awardee's proposal is denied where the record shows that the agency reasonably evaluated the awardee's proposed costs, taking into account the awardee's technical approach and individual cost elements. DECISION IPKeys Technology, LLC ( IPKeys), of Stafford, Virginia , protests the issuance of a task order to By Light Professional IT Services, LLC (By Light), of Arlington, Virginia, by the Department of Defense (DOD), Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA), under request for proposals (RFP) No. GSMETI00032, for secure systems engineering and evolution support for the Defense Information System Network (DISN). IPKeys challenges the agency's evaluation of proposals and its award decision. We deny the protest. BACKGROUND On July 28, 2017, the agency issued the task order solicitation as a small business set-aside under Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) subpart 16.5 to the seven holders of DISA's indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract known as Grid Services Management, Engineering Transition and Implementation (GSM-ETI). Agency Report (AR) Tab 1, RFP at 1.1 The performance work statement (PWS) stated that the contractor would provide systems engineering, and technical and applications engineering support of DISN architecture. RFP, PWS, at 2. The RFP sought to award a cost-plus-fixed-fee and fixed-price task order for a base year with a 1-year option period. RFP at 2. The solicitation advised that award would be based on a best-value tradeoff determination considering the technical/management approach factor and cost/price. Id. at 4. The technical/management approach factor was considered more important than cost/price. Id. The technical/management approach factor consisted of four equally important subfactors, identified by number, to be evaluated generally by how well the proposal demonstrated the following: (1) comprehensive knowledge and applicable experience in the fields of transport network engineering and analysis as the field relates to DISN and existing systems within DISN; (2) the ability to support the engineering evolution of the DISN; (3) technical knowledge and experience in DISN cryptographic technology, algorithms, and secure protocols; and (4) a management plan that describes a comprehensive approach to performing the PWS requirements. Id. at 4-5. The technical subfactors would be evaluated individually, i.e., not rolled up, and the agency would assign a combined technical/risk rating. Id. at 4. Proposals would be rated, from highest to lowest, as blue/outstanding, purple/good, green/acceptable, yellow/marginal, and red/unacceptable. AR, Tab 1F, Evaluation Tables, at 1. Subfactor 1 required offerors to demonstrate DISN transport network experience or large enterprise network experience due to the highly technical and specialized aspects of the work and to ensure uninterrupted critical warfighter support.2 RFP at 4. As relevant here, the RFP required that proposals demonstrate the ability to support the development of an engineering design plan of the global and regional Internet Protocol (IP)/transport network architectures, to recommend future network technologies and equipment for DISN architecture, and to aid in aligning future architecture requirements. Id. at 4-5.