Logistics Management Institute (19AQMM19Q0066)

B-418160,B-418160.2 Jan 16, 2020 Jump To FULL REPORT VIEW DECISION RELATED PAGES GAO CONTACTS Highlights Logistics Management Institute (LMI), of Tysons, Virginia, protests the issuance of a task order to PotomacWave Consulting, Inc., of Alexandria, Virginia, under request for quotations (RFQ) No. 19AQMM19Q0066, issued by the Department of State (DOS) for contract administration support services. LMI challenges the agency's evaluation of quotations and the 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:  Logistics Management Institute File:  B-418160; B-418160.2 Date:  January 16, 2020 Milton C. Johns, Esq., and Emily A. Spence, Esq., FH+H, PLLC, for the protester. Christian Curran, Esq., Robert A. Burton, Esq., and Zachary H. Schroeder, Esq., Crowell & Moring LLP, for PotomacWave Consulting, Inc., the intervenor. Kathleen D. Martin, Esq., Department of State, for the agency. Joshua R. Gillerman, 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 protester’s quotation is denied where the record shows that the evaluation was consistent with the solicitation and applicable statutes and regulations. 2.  Protest challenging the agency’s source selection decision is denied where the record shows that the selection decision was consistent with the solicitation and applicable statutes and regulations. DECISION Logistics Management Institute (LMI), of Tysons, Virginia, protests the issuance of a task order to PotomacWave Consulting, Inc., of Alexandria, Virginia, under request for quotations (RFQ) No. 19AQMM19Q0066, issued by the Department of State (DOS) for contract administration support services.  LMI challenges the agency’s evaluation of quotations and the source selection decision. We deny the protest. BACKGROUND The RFQ was issued on August 2, 2019, under the procedures of Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) subpart 8.4, to vendors holding contracts under the General Services Administration (GSA), Federal Supply Schedule (FSS), Professional Services Schedule, Special Item Number 874-1(Integrated Consulting Services).  Contracting Officer’s Statement (COS) at 2.[1]  The RFQ contemplated issuance of a task order, on a time-and-materials basis, for services to support the administration and oversight of the agency’s Global Security Engineering and Supply Chain (GSE&SC) contract.  Agency Report (AR), Tab 2, RFQ at 5.  The successful contractor would provide independent verification and validation of the GSE&SC contractor’s performance and costs.  Id. at 9; COS at 1. Issuance of the task order was to be made on a best-value tradeoff basis, considering price and non-price factors.  RFQ, amend. 2 at 2. The non-price factors to be considered were:  technical approach, staffing plan and key personnel, and relevant experience.  Id.  The technical factors, when combined, were deemed more important than price.  Id. at 1. The agency received quotations in response to the RFQ on August 26, 2019.  COS at 2.  After performing an initial review of quotations, the agency concluded that none of the quotations met all of the RFQ’s requirements.  AR, Tab 4, Technical Evaluation Panel (TEP) Report, at 1-6.  In response, the agency amended the RFQ to, among other things, provide a ceiling amount of $3,500,000 to allow vendors to more accurately estimate the level of effort, and allow for the submission of revised quotations.  COS at 9. The agency then solicited, received, and evaluated revised quotations, with the following relevant results: [2]   LMI PotomacWave Vendor A Vendor B Technical Approach Marginal Superior Marginal Marginal Staffing and Key Personnel Superior Superior Marginal Marginal Relevant Experience Acceptable Acceptable Acceptable Acceptable Price $13,944,071 $17,335,840 $13,236,387 $14,486,627   AR, Tab 4, TEP Report at 6; AR, Tab 5, Award Summary at 7. The source selection authority (SSA) reviewed the TEP’s analysis, performed a comparative assessment of quotations against the RFQ’s evaluation criteria, and ultimately agreed with the TEP’s recommendation to make award to PotomacWave.  AR, Tab 5, Award Summary, at 8.  The SSA noted that, although PotomacWave quoted the highest price of all the vendors, its quotation was the most highly technically rated.  Id. at 9.  The SSA thus concluded that the technical advantages associated with PotomacWave’s quotation warranted its price premium.