Candor Solutions, LLC (19FS1A19R0001)

B-417950.5,B-417950.6 May 10, 2021 Jump To FULL REPORT VIEW DECISION RELATED PAGES GAO CONTACTS Highlights Candor Solutions, LLC, a small business of McLean, Virginia, protests the issuance of a task order to Systems Plus, Inc., a small business of Rockville, Maryland, under request for proposals (RFP) No. 19FS1A19R0001, issued by the Department of State for information technology (IT) support services. The protester challenges multiple aspects of the agency's evaluation of proposals and source selection 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:  Candor Solutions, LLC File:  B-417950.5; B-417950.6 Date:  May 10, 2021 Jon D. Levin, Esq., W. Brad English, Esq., Emily J. Chancey, Esq., Michael W. Rich, Esq., and J. Dale Gipson, Esq., Maynard Cooper & Gale PC, for the protester. Richard B. Oliver, Esq., and J. Matthew Carter, Esq., Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman  LLP, for Systems Plus, Inc., the intervenor. Tudo N. Pham, Esq., Department of State, for the agency. Heather Self, Esq., and Peter H. Tran, Esq., Office of the General Counsel, GAO, participated in the preparation of the decision. DIGEST Protest challenging agency’s selection of a higher-rated, higher-priced proposal is denied because the record reflects the agency evaluated proposals reasonably and in a non-disparate manner, and that the evaluations and source selection decision were consistent with the solicitation.  DECISION   Candor Solutions, LLC, a small business of McLean, Virginia, protests the issuance of a task order to Systems Plus, Inc., a small business of Rockville, Maryland, under request for proposals (RFP) No. 19FS1A19R0001, issued by the Department of State for information technology (IT) support services.  The protester challenges multiple aspects of the agency’s evaluation of proposals and source selection decision. We deny the protest. BACKGROUND On May 6, 2019, pursuant to the provisions of Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) subpart 16.5, the Department of State’s Foreign Service Institute (FSI) issued the solicitation to small business holders of the National Institutes of Health Information Technology Acquisition and Assessment Center Chief Information Officer Solutions and Partners 3 indefinite-delivery, indefinite‑quantity (IDIQ) contracts.  Agency Report (AR), Tab 2, Contracting Officer’s Statement (COS) at 1.  The solicitation sought proposals for an array of IT support and instructional systems design and development services to multiple FSI subcomponents to assist FSI in fulfilling its mission as the training bureau for the Department of State and the wider federal government foreign affairs community.[1]  AR, Tab 9, RFP amend. 1 at 1, 7-8. The solicitation contemplated award of a single labor hour task order for a 1‑year base period and four 1-year option periods.  Id. at 5.  The solicitation established that task order award would be made on a best-value tradeoff basis, considering six equally important non-price evaluation factors:  (1) staffing capabilities; (2) employee development and compensation; (3) contractor experience and past performance; (4) project management; (5) technical approach; and (6) key personnel.[2]  RFP at 132-137; Tab 14, RFP amend. 3 at 1.  With respect to price, the solicitation provided that the agency would evaluate for reasonableness, balance, and to determine whether proposals reflected “a clear understanding of the requirements.”  RFP at 138-139.  The non-price evaluation factors, when combined, were significantly more important than price.  Id. at 132.  The agency received nine timely proposals, including those submitted by Candor and Systems Plus.  AR, Tab 33, Award Determination at 2.  Based on evaluation of initial proposals, the agency established a competitive range of four proposals, including Candor’s.  Id. at 2-3.  A fifth offeror, Systems Plus, filed a protest with our Office challenging its exclusion from the competitive range.  In response, the agency took corrective action and elected to include the firm in the competitive range.  Id. at 3.  As a result, we dismissed the protest as academic.  Systems Plus, Inc., B‑417950, Sept. 30, 2019 (unpublished decision).  In September 2020, the agency selected Systems Plus for award, following notification of which Candor and two other unsuccessful offerors filed protests with our Office.  AR, Tab 33, Award Determination at 3.  In response to the three challenges to its award decision, the agency submitted notices of corrective action indicating it would reopen discussions, request and evaluate revised proposals, and make a new source selection decision.  Id.  As a result, we dismissed the three protests as academic.  SNAP, Inc., B‑417950.2, Sept.