Advanced Alliant Solutions Team, LLC

B-417334 Apr 10, 2019 Jump To VIEW DECISION DOWNLOADS RELATED PAGES GAO CONTACTS Highlights Advanced Alliant Solutions Team, LLC (AAST), of Fairfax, Virginia, protests the issuance of a task order to Data Computer Corporation of America (DCCA), of Ellicott City, Maryland, under request for proposals (RFP) No. HT940219R0002, issued by the Defense Health Agency for information technology (IT) and engineering services. AAST alleges that the agency unreasonably evaluated its proposal and improperly made the source selection 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:  Advanced Alliant Solutions Team, LLC File:  B-417334 Date:  April 10, 2019 Steven J. Koprince, Esq., Matthew P. Moriarty, Esq., Haley E. Claxton, Esq., and Robert D. Kampen, Esq., Koprince Law, LLC, for the protester. Rebecca E. Pearson, Esq., and Christopher G. Griesedieck, Esq., Venable, LLP, for Data Computer Corporation of America, the intervenor. Michael R. Bibbo, Esq., and Timothy J. Haight, Esq., Defense Health Agency, for the agency. Todd C. Culliton, Esq., and Tania Calhoun, Esq., Office of the General Counsel, GAO, participated in the preparation of the decision. DIGEST Protest that agency unreasonably evaluated protester’s past performance is denied where the record shows that the evaluation was reasonable and consistent with the firm’s record of past performance and the terms of the solicitation. DECISION Advanced Alliant Solutions Team, LLC (AAST),[1] of Fairfax, Virginia, protests the issuance of a task order to Data Computer Corporation of America (DCCA), of Ellicott City, Maryland, under request for proposals (RFP) No. HT940219R0002, issued by the Defense Health Agency for information technology (IT) and engineering services.  AAST alleges that the agency unreasonably evaluated its proposal and improperly made the source selection decision. We deny the protest. BACKGROUND The RFP was issued on October 30, 2018, to holders of the General Services Administration’s Alliant Small Business governmentwide acquisition contract.  Agency Report (AR), Tab 2, Conformed RFP at 2, 28.  The RFP contemplated the issuance of a fixed-price task order to be performed over a 30-day transition period, an 11-month base period, three 1-year option periods, and a final 7-month option period.  Id. at 28, 30.  The selected contractor would be expected to provide IT and engineering support services to the agency’s E-Commerce system (ECS), including maintenance of the existing ECS and upgrading the ECS software and applications.  Id. at 33.  The RFP provided for award on a best-value tradeoff basis considering technical, past performance, and price factors.  AR, Tab 2, Conformed RFP at 30-31.  The technical factor would be evaluated for acceptability.  Id.  The agency would then make its tradeoff decision considering the past performance and price factors.  Id.  The RFP specified that past performance was significantly more important than price.  Id. at 31. Seven offerors, including AAST and DCCA, submitted proposals prior to the December 3, 2018, closing date.  AR, Tab 4, Combined Price Analysis Report and Price Competition Memorandum (PAR/PCM) at 3.  The agency’s evaluation produced the following relevant results:   AAST DCCA Technical Acceptable Acceptable Past Performance Limited Confidence Substantial Confidence Price $39,359,098 $44,526,789 Id. at 16, 34, 48.  After comparing the proposals, the source selection authority (SSA) determined that DCCA’s proposal represented the best value.  Id. at 48.  Although AAST’s proposal was lower-priced, the SSA concluded that DCCA’s price premium was justified because the solicitation considered the past performance factor to be significantly more important than price, and because DCCA’s past performance record indicated a much higher chance of successful contract performance than AAST’s past performance.  Id. at 49-50.  After the agency made award to DCCA on January 25, 2019, the protester filed the instant protest with our Office.