GovernmentCIO, LLC (T4NG-0484)

B-418363,B-418363.2,B-418363.3,B-418363.4 Mar 10, 2020 Jump To FULL REPORT VIEW DECISION RELATED PAGES GAO CONTACTS Highlights GovernmentCIO, LLC (GCIO), of Washington, D.C., the incumbent contractor, protests the award of a task order to Favor TechConsulting, LLC, (FTC), of Vienna, Virginia, under request for task execution plan (RTEP) No. T4NG-0484, issued by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for software development services. GCIO alleges that the award to FTC was improper because FTC had disqualifying organizational conflicts of interest (OCI). GCIO also alleges that the agency unreasonably evaluated proposals, and improperly made its 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:  GovernmentCIO, LLC File:  B-418363; B-418363.2; B-418363.3; B-418363.4 Date:  March 10, 2020 James Y. Boland, Esq., Emily A. Unnasch, Esq., and Michael T. Francel, Esq., Venable LLP, for the protester. Terry L. Elling, Esq., Amy L. Fuentes, Esq., and Kelsey M. Hayes, Esq., Holland & Knight LLP, for Favor TechConsulting, LLC, the intervenor. Frank V. DiNicola, Esq., Kerry A. McGrath, Esq., Tara Nash, Esq., and Ronald J. Bakay, Esq., Department of Veterans Affairs, for the agency. Todd C. Culliton, Esq., and Tania Calhoun, Esq., Office of the General Counsel, GAO, participated in the preparation of the decision. DIGEST 1.  Protest that the agency failed to evaluate properly an alleged impaired objectivity organizational conflict of interest in the awardee’s proposal is denied where the record shows that the agency’s evaluation was reasonable. 2.  Protest that the agency unreasonably evaluated proposals is denied where the protester did not demonstrate the agency improperly evaluated proposals and where the record shows that the evaluation was consistent with the evaluation criteria. 3.  Protest that the agency unreasonably made its source selection decision is denied where the decision was reasonable and consistent with the evaluation criteria. DECISION GovernmentCIO, LLC (GCIO), of Washington, D.C., the incumbent contractor, protests the award of a task order to Favor TechConsulting, LLC, (FTC), of Vienna, Virginia, under request for task execution plan (RTEP) No. T4NG-0484, issued by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for software development services.  GCIO alleges that the award to FTC was improper because FTC had disqualifying organizational conflicts of interest (OCI).  GCIO also alleges that the agency unreasonably evaluated proposals, and improperly made its source selection decision. We deny the protest. BACKGROUND On October 8, 2019, the VA issued the RTEP to acquire on-site software development services at its Financial Services Center (FSC).[1]  Contracting Officer’s Statement of Facts (COS) at 1.  The selected contractor would be expected to provide project management, research and assessment development guidelines, technical services, software development and deployment support, and advanced (i.e., Tier III) system and application sustainment support.  Agency Report (AR), Tab 5, RTEP, Performance Work Statement (PWS), at 5.  The RTEP contemplated the award of a hybrid fixed‑price, cost‑reimbursable, and time‑and‑materials task order to be performed over a 1‑year base period, and four 1‑year option periods.  Id.  Award was to be made on a best-value tradeoff basis considering technical, price/cost, and past performance factors.  AR, Tab 5, RTEP, Task Order Evaluation Plan (TOEP) at 1.  When evaluating each firm’s technical approach, the VA would assess each vendor’s understanding of the problem and feasibility of approach.  Id. at 1-2.  In order to be considered for award, a proposal must receive at least a rating of acceptable for the technical factor.[2]  Id.  The solicitation advised that the technical factor was significantly more important the price/cost factor, and that the price/cost factor was slightly more important that the past performance factor.  Id.  Technical and past performance factors, when combined, were significantly more important than the price/cost factor.  Id. Seven vendors, including GCIO and FTC, submitted proposals prior to the October 21, 2019, close of the solicitation period.  AR, Tab 18, Source Selection Decision Document (SSDD), at 1.  GCIO’s proposal was assigned a rating of good under the technical factor, had an evaluated price of $90,720,392, and received a past performance score of 18.4.[3]  Id.