Special Applications Group, LLC (DJF-18-2200-PR-000374)

B-417698.2,B-417698.3 Feb 19, 2020 Jump To FULL REPORT VIEW DECISION RELATED PAGES GAO CONTACTS Highlights Special Applications Group (SAG), of Tampa, Florida, protests the award of a contract to Oak Grove Technologies, LLC, of Alexandria, Virginia, under request for proposals (RFP) No. DJF-18-2200-PR-000374, issued by the Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), for UH-60 pilot support services for the FBI's Critical Incident Response Group (CIRG). SAG contends the agency's evaluation of offerors' proposals and resulting award decision were improper. 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:  Special Applications Group File:  B-417698.2; B-417698.3 Date:  February 19, 2019 Joseph M. Goldstein, Esq., and Andrew E. Schwartz, Esq., Shutts & Bowen LLP, for the protester. Todd R. Overman, Esq., Silvia Yi, Esq., and Roee Talmor, Esq., Bass, Berry & Sims, PLC, for Oak Grove Technologies, LLC, the intervenor. Michael P. Giordano, Esq., and Catherine Chen, Esq., Department of Justice, for the agency. Louis A. Chiarella, Esq., and Peter H. Tran, Esq., Office of the General Counsel, GAO, participated in the preparation of the decision. DIGEST 1.  Protest challenging the agency’s evaluation of the awardee’s past performance is denied where the evaluation was reasonable and consistent with the solicitation. 2.  Protest challenging agency’s evaluation of protester’s technical approach is denied where the evaluation was reasonable and consistent with the stated evaluation criteria, or did not prejudice the protester. 3.  Protest challenging the agency’s best-value tradeoff determination is denied where the decision was reasonable, consistent with the stated evaluation criteria, and adequately documented as to why awardee’s proposal represented the overall best value to the government. DECISION   Special Applications Group (SAG), of Tampa, Florida, protests the award of a contract to Oak Grove Technologies, LLC, of Alexandria, Virginia, under request for proposals (RFP) No. DJF-18-2200-PR-000374, issued by the Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), for UH-60 pilot support services for the FBI’s Critical Incident Response Group (CIRG).  SAG contends the agency’s evaluation of offerors’ proposals and resulting award decision were improper. We deny the protest. BACKGROUND The mission of the FBI CIRG involves undertaking counter-terrorism operations, responding to critical incidents, and preventing the deployment of weapons of mass destruction.  Agency Report (AR), Tab 4, RFP, Performance Work Statement (PWS) at 6.  FBI aviation assets support these missions via a fleet of fixed and rotary-wing aircraft, including Sikorsky UH-60M (Blackhawk) helicopters.  Id.  In order for CIRG to effectively carry out its unique and often dangerous missions, the overall objective of the procurement was to acquire experienced pilots to provide the agency with a “no-fail, 24 hour, 365 day-per-year response capability.”  Id. The RFP was issued on November 2, 2018, as a service-disabled, veteran-owned small business set-aside, pursuant to the procedures of Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) part 15.[1]  RFP at 1; COS at 1.  The solicitation contemplated the award of a fixed-price contract for a base year with four 1-year options.  RFP at 14, 38.  In general terms, the contractor was to provide all labor, supervision, and materials necessary for the operation and support (pre-flight, flight, and post-flight) of two UH-60 helicopters to the FBI.  RFP at 2; PWS at 6.  The RFP established that contract award would be made on a best-value tradeoff basis, based on three evaluation factors in descending order of importance:  technical approach; past performance; and price.  RFP at 42.  The technical approach factor consisted of two subfactors, also in descending order of importance:  management and staffing plan; and quality control plan.  Id.  Additionally, offerors were notified that the technical approach and past performance factors were significantly more important than price.