NXP USA, Inc.

B-417311 May 09, 2019 Jump To VIEW DECISION DOWNLOADS RELATED PAGES GAO CONTACTS Highlights NXP USA, Inc., of Washington, D.C., protests the rejection of the proposals it submitted in response to request for proposals (RFP) No. 040ADV-18-R-0003, issued by the Government Publishing Office (GPO) for passport eCovers. NXP complains that the agency unreasonably evaluated its proposals as unacceptable. 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:  NXP USA, Inc. File:  B-417311 Date:  May 9, 2019 Grant H. Willis, Esq., Cherie J. Owen, Esq., and Alexander M. Yabroff, Esq., Jones Day, for the protester. Craig D. Barrett, Esq., Government Publishing Office, 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 Agency reasonably eliminated proposals from consideration for award where proposals did not demonstrate that protester’s proposed approach met all solicitation requirements.  DECISION NXP USA, Inc., of Washington, D.C., protests the rejection of the proposals it submitted in response to request for proposals (RFP) No. 040ADV-18-R-0003, issued by the Government Publishing Office (GPO) for passport eCovers.  NXP complains that the agency unreasonably evaluated its proposals as unacceptable. We deny the protest. BACKGROUND The solicitation, issued by GPO on March 16, 2018, contemplated the award of multiple indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity contracts for passport eCovers.  Agency Report (AR), Tab 1, RFP, at 1-2.  The passport eCovers will be used to support the government’s effort to produce electronically enabled passports, known as ePassports.  RFP, Statement of Work (SOW), at 5.  The eCovers will contain an integrated circuit (IC or chip) with an antenna assembly embedded in the fabric cover.  Id.  GPO will provide the ePassports, with the eCovers, to the Department of State (State).  RFP, List of Attachments, attach. G, Random Unique Identifier (RUID) Requirements, at 2.  As provided to State, the chip embedded in the eCover will contain no information except for a unique identifier (UID), which is a fixed number used for inventory management purposes.  Id.  State, however, will be able to input a passport holder’s personal data into the chip (i.e., personalization).  Id.  Once personalization is complete, the chip will be locked and activated.  Id.  Once the chip is locked and activated, an RUID will be activated.  Id.  RUIDs are required because there is a possibility the ePassport holder can be tracked using the UID, since it is a fixed number.  Id.  Therefore, each time the ePassport’s locked chip is accessed, it will present a different RUID.[1]  Id. at 3.  The RFP provided for contracts for the eCovers to be awarded on a lowest-price, technically acceptable basis.  RFP, Evaluation Factors for Award, at 2.  The non-price evaluation factors were technical capability and past performance.  Id. at 3.  A proposal that failed to receive a pass for any evaluation factor or subfactor, or was insufficiently detailed or failed to meet any of the government’s requirements, would be deemed technically unacceptable and not considered for award.  Id. at 3-4.  One evaluation subfactor, identification of technical compliance, stated that the government would review all proposals for compliance with the standards and requirements set forth in the RFP.  Id.