SOC LLC

B-418027,B-418027.2 Dec 30, 2019 Jump To FULL REPORT VIEW DECISION RELATED PAGES GAO CONTACTS Highlights SOC LLC, of Chantilly, Virginia, protests the issuance of a task order to Janus Global Operations, LLC, of Lenoir City, Tennessee, under request for proposals (RFP) No. 19AQMM19R0112, issued by the Department of State for protective guard services, static guard services, and specialized security services to be provided at the U.S. Mission Somalia. SOC argues that the agency misevaluated proposals and made an unreasonable source selection decision. 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:  SOC LLC File:  B-418027; B-418027.2 Date:  December 30, 2019 Paul F. Khoury, Esq., Jon W. Burd, Esq., and Moshe B. Broder, Esq., Wiley Rein LLP, for the protester. Terry L. Elling, Esq., Thomas M. Brownell, Esq., and Kelsey M. (O’Brien) Hayes, Esq., Holland & Knight LLP, for Janus Global Operations, LLC, the intervenor. Kathleen D. Martin, Esq., Department of State, for the agency. Scott H. Riback, Esq., and Tania Calhoun, Esq., Office of the General Counsel, GAO, participated in the preparation of the decision. DIGEST Protest challenging agency’s evaluation of proposals and source selection decision is denied where record shows that agency’s evaluation was reasonable and consistent with the terms of the solicitation, and that the selection decision also was both consistent with the terms of the solicitation and rational. DECISION SOC LLC, of Chantilly, Virginia, protests the issuance of a task order to Janus Global Operations, LLC, of Lenoir City, Tennessee, under request for proposals (RFP) No. 19AQMM19R0112, issued by the Department of State for protective guard services, static guard services, and specialized security services to be provided at the U.S. Mission Somalia.  SOC argues that the agency misevaluated proposals and made an unreasonable source selection decision. We deny the protest. BACKGROUND The RFP contemplates the issuance, on a best-value tradeoff basis, of a hybrid fixed-price, cost-reimbursement type task order for a base year and four 1-year options to provide security-related services at designated locations in support of the U.S. Mission Somalia.[1]  Award would be made considering cost/price and several non-cost/price considerations.  The non-cost/price considerations were technical approach, management strategy,[2] and past performance relevancy (all deemed equal in importance), and past performance confidence (deemed less important than the other three evaluation factors together, but more important than cost/price).[3]  RFP, attach. H, Evaluation Factors, at 1.  The technical approach, management strategy and past performance relevancy factors were significantly more important than cost/price.  Id. Cost/price would be evaluated considering the reasonableness of each of the fixed-price and cost reimbursement contract line items, and the agency would consider the reasonableness of the total of the fixed-price contract line items.  RFP, attach. H, Evaluation Factors, at 6.  In addition, offerors were advised that the total of the fixed-price contract line items would be used in the agency’s best-value tradeoff decision.  Id. The agency received a number of proposals in response to the RFP and, after performing an evaluation, made the following findings in connection with the proposals of SOC and Janus:    Technical Approach Management Strategy Past Perf. Relevancy Past Perf. Confidence Evaluated Fixed-Price SOC Outstanding Outstanding Very Relevant Substantial Confidence $64,765,570 Janus Good Acceptable Very Relevant Satisfactory Confidence $56,421,777[4]   Agency Report (AR), exh.