Quantech Services, Inc.

B-417347,B-417347.2 May 29, 2019 Jump To FULL REPORT VIEW DECISION RELATED PAGES GAO CONTACTS Highlights Quantech Services, Inc., a small business of Lexington, Massachusetts, protests the issuance of a task order to Tecolote Research, Inc., a small business of Goleta, California, under request for proposals (RFP) No. FA8810-18-R-0001, issued by the Department of the Air Force, Space and Missile Systems Center (SMC) for acquisition, communications, and administrative support services. Quantech alleges that the agency departed from the solicitation's established evaluation criteria, unreasonably evaluated technical proposals, and conducted a flawed best-value tradeoff. 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 version has been approved for public release. Decision Matter of: Quantech Services, Inc. File: B-417347; B-417347.2 Date: May 29, 2019 John R. Prairie, Esq., Martha G. Vazquez, Esq., Cara L. Lasley, Esq., Wiley Rein LLP, for the protester. Richard B. Oliver, Esq., J. Matthew Carter, Esq., Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP, for Tecolote Research, Inc., the intervenor. Lieutenant Colonel Nathaniel H. Sears, Erika Whelan Retta, Esq., Alexis J. Bernstein, Esq., Department of the Air Force, for the agency. Heather Self, Esq., and Edward Goldstein, Esq., Office of the General Counsel, GAO, participated in the preparation of the decision. DIGEST Protest challenging agency's selection of a higher technically rated proposal at a higher cost is denied where agency reasonably evaluated offerors' proposals and identified discriminators to justify selection of the higher-priced proposal. DECISION Quantech Services, Inc., a small business of Lexington, Massachusetts, protests the issuance of a task order to Tecolote Research, Inc., a small business of Goleta, California, under request for proposals (RFP) No. FA8810-18-R-0001, issued by the Department of the Air Force, Space and Missile Systems Center (SMC) for acquisition, communications, and administrative support services. Quantech alleges that the agency departed from the solicitation's established evaluation criteria, unreasonably evaluated technical proposals, and conducted a flawed best-value tradeoff. We deny the protest. BACKGROUND The agency issued the solicitation on November 8, 2018, to small businesses holding General Services Administration One Acquisition Solution for Integrated Services indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contracts. Agency Report (AR), Tab 4, Solicitation Transmittal Letter, at 1.1 The RFP contemplated the issuance of a single task order with fixed-price and cost-reimbursement line items pursuant to the fair opportunity ordering procedures of Federal Acquisition Regulation subpart 16.5 for a 1-year base2 and four 1-year option periods. Id.; AR, Tab 13, Model Contract, at 2-15. The RFP sought proposals for provision of acquisition, strategic communication, and administrative support services for SMC's Remote Sensing Systems Directorate. AR, Tab 6, Performance Work Statement (PWS), at 6. The solicitation identified 24 separate PWS items connected with specific tasks, 22 of which will be performed at Los Angeles Air Force Base (AFB), in El Segundo, California, and two of which will be performed at Buckley, AFB, in Aurora, Colorado. AR, Tab 14, Staffing Matrix. The RFP provided a government estimate staffing matrix and a blank staffing matrix template, which offerors were required to complete with proposed staff sufficient to meet the solicitation's requirements. AR, Tab 7, Instructions to Offerors, at 10; AR, Tab 14, Staffing Matrix. The solicitation also instructed offerors to indicate which proposed staff were considered key personnel. AR, Tab 14, Staffing Matrix. The government estimate staffing matrix identified 13 staff as key personnel. Id. The RFP provided that the task order would be issued on a best-value tradeoff basis considering technical capabilities and price, with technical capabilities identified as more important than price. AR, Tab 8, Evaluation Criteria, at 5 and 9. For technical capabilities, the RFP advised that the agency would evaluate: (1) the extent to which an offeror's staffing matrix "demonstrates that the proposed staffing solution provides sufficient staffing levels, relevant experience, education, certifications, and the expertise required to complete the requirements of the PWS for each PWS item," and the extent to which "each proposed staff member's specific experience and expertise satisfies the PWS and Government Staffing Matrix requirements"; (2) the extent to which a proposal "[d]escribes a flexible and responsive process to adapt to fluctuations due to changes in Government needs"; and (3) the extent to which a proposal "[p]rovides [a] general staffing, retention, and succession plan for all personnel through phases of the contract." Id. at 9-10.