Hughes Coleman, JV (W9124M-19-R-0017)

B-417787.5 Jul 29, 2020 Jump To FULL REPORT VIEW DECISION RELATED PAGES GAO CONTACTS Highlights Hughes Coleman JV (HCJV), a service-disabled veteran-owned small business (SDVOSB), of Tacoma, Washington, protests the award of a contract to Pegasus Support Services, LLC (PSS), of Woodstock, Georgia, also an SDVOSB, by the Department of the Army, under request for proposals (RFP) No. W9124M-19-R-0017, for base operations and maintenance support services. HCJV argues that the agency unreasonably evaluated the offerors' past performance and made an unreasonable award decision. 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:  Hughes Coleman, JV File:  B-417787.5 Date:  July 29, 2020 Kenneth A. Martin, Esq., The Martin Law Firm, PLLC, for the protester. Peter B. Ford, Esq., Timothy F. Valley, Esq., and Samuel S. Finnerty, Esq., Piliero Mazza PLLC, for Pegasus Support Services, LLC, the intervenor. Captain Jeremy D. Burkhart, Zachary F. Jacobson, Esq., and Stephen Hernandez, Esq., Department of the Army, for the agency. Jonathan L. Kang, Esq., and Laura Eyester, Esq., Office of the General Counsel, GAO, participated in the preparation of the decision. DIGEST 1.  Protest challenging the evaluation of past performance is denied where the evaluation was reasonable and consistent with the terms of the solicitation. 2.  Protest that the agency failed to explain the basis for selecting a higher-priced, higher-rated proposal for award is denied where the agency reasonably identified the advantages associated with the awardee’s proposal that merited its higher price. DECISION   Hughes Coleman JV (HCJV), a service-disabled veteran-owned small business (SDVOSB), of Tacoma, Washington, protests the award of a contract to Pegasus Support Services, LLC (PSS), of Woodstock, Georgia, also an SDVOSB, by the Department of the Army, under request for proposals (RFP) No. W9124M-19-R-0017, for base operations and maintenance support services.  HCJV argues that the agency unreasonably evaluated the offerors’ past performance and made an unreasonable award decision.  We deny the protest. BACKGROUND The Army issued the RFP on June 14, 2019, seeking proposals to provide base operations and maintenance support services at Fort Stewart, Georgia, and Hunter Army Airfield, Georgia.  Agency Report (AR), Tab 6, Conformed RFP at 1, 3.[1]  The solicitation was set aside for SDVOSB firms.  Id. at 74.  The contractor will be required to provide services in the following areas:  solid waste management, grounds maintenance, pavement clearance, facility maintenance, heating and cooling, wastewater, and pest management.  Id. at 36.  The RFP anticipated the award of single indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity contract, with a performance period of 5 years and a 6-month option, and a maximum ordering value of $205 million.  Id. at 2, 18, 76. The RFP advised offerors that proposals would be evaluated based on the following three factors:  (1) mission capability, which was to be evaluated on an acceptable/unacceptable basis; (2) past performance; and (3) price.  Id. at 108.  Under the past performance factor, the RFP stated that the agency would evaluate the recency and relevance of past performance references to assess overall performance confidence for each offeror.  Id. at 109-10.  For purposes of award, past performance was “approximately equal” to price.  Id.