CEdge Software Consultants, LLC (HTC711-19-Q-D005)

B-418128.7 Aug 04, 2020 Jump To FULL REPORT VIEW DECISION RELATED PAGES GAO CONTACTS Highlights CEdge Software Consultants, LLC (CEdge), a small business of Creve Coeur, Missouri, protests the cancellation of request for quotations (RFQ) No. HTC711-19-Q-D005, issued by the United States Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM) for enterprise information technology (IT) services support for the military surface deployment and distribution command (SDDC). The protester contends that the agency's decision to cancel the RFQ lacks a reasonable basis and was a pretext to avoid having to reevaluate quotations and issue the task order to CEdge after our Office sustained its prior protest. CEdge Software Consultants, LLC, B-418128.2 et al., Mar. 19, 2020, 2020 CPD ¶ 127. 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:  CEdge Software Consultants, LLC File:  B-418128.7 Date:  August 4, 2020 James Y. Boland, Esq., Michael T. Francel, Esq., and Caleb E. McCallum, Esq., Venable LLP, for the protester. Colonel Patricia S. Weigman-Lenz, Captain Seiji Ohashi, and Alexis J. Bernstein, Esq., Department of the Air Force; and Robert J. Depke, Esq., and Kenneth M. Roth, Esq., United States Transportation Command, for the agencies. Christopher Alwood, Esq., and Christina Sklarew, Esq., Office of the General Counsel, GAO, participated in the preparation of the decision. DIGEST Protest of agency’s decision to cancel solicitation following GAO’s decision sustaining a prior protest is denied where the record demonstrates that the agency’s decision was reasonable.  DECISION CEdge Software Consultants, LLC (CEdge), a small business of Creve Coeur, Missouri, protests the cancellation of request for quotations (RFQ) No. HTC711-19-Q-D005, issued by the United States Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM) for enterprise information technology (IT) services support for the military surface deployment and distribution command (SDDC).[1]  The protester contends that the agency’s decision to cancel the RFQ lacks a reasonable basis and was a pretext to avoid having to reevaluate quotations and issue the task order to CEdge after our Office sustained its prior protest.  CEdge Software Consultants, LLC, B-418128.2 et al., Mar. 19, 2020, 2020 CPD ¶ 127. We deny the protest.  BACKGROUND On June 14, 2019, USTRANSCOM issued the RFQ under the General Services Administration’s (GSA) 8(a) Streamlined Technology Acquisition Resources for Services (STARS) II governmentwide acquisition contract (GWAC).  B‑418128.2, Contracting Officer’s Statement (COS) at 2.  The RFQ contemplated the issuance of a task order on a best-value tradeoff basis to provide enterprise IT services support at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, and SDDC activities worldwide.  Agency Report (AR), Tab 3, RFQ at 2, 8.[2]  Of relevance here, the RFQ contemplated a task order period of performance of just under 5 years, including all option periods.[3]  RFQ at 2.  The RFQ provided that vendors would submit the technical capability section of their quotations via an oral presentation using Microsoft PowerPoint slides.  RFQ at 4-5.  The RFQ specified that, outside of a staffing matrix and the PowerPoint slides, written technical proposals would not be accepted.  Id. at 5.  Notably, the RFQ established that the agency would not record oral presentations.  RFQ at 5. On or before the July 10, 2019 closing date for initial quotations, the agency received timely quotations from five vendors, including the protester and TekSynap.  B‑418128.2, COS at 7; B-418128.2, AR, Tab 9, Source Selection Decision Document at 1.  Following the evaluation of quotations, including oral presentations, the agency issued a task order to TekSynap.  B-418128.2, COS at 7.  CEdge then filed a protest with our Office on October 7, challenging various aspects of the agency’s evaluation of quotations and source selection decision.  Id.