Federal Conference.com (W9124J-19-R-0003)

B-418465.2,B-418465.3 Nov 16, 2020 Jump To FULL REPORT VIEW DECISION RELATED PAGES GAO CONTACTS Highlights National Conferencing, Inc. d/b/a Federal Conference.com (FedCon), of Dumfries, Virginia, protests the award of an indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract to TechTrans International, Inc., of Houston, Texas, under request for proposals (RFP) No. W9124J-19-R-0003, issued by the Department of the Army for event planning and logistical support services. FedCon, the incumbent contractor, alleges that the agency unreasonably evaluated TechTrans's proposal as technically acceptable. 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:  Federal Conference.com File:  B-418465.2; B-418465.3 Date:  November 16, 2020 Olivia L. Lynch, Esq., Anuj Vohra, Esq., and Zachary H. Schroeder, Esq., Crowell & Moring LLP, for the protester. Paul F. Khoury, Esq., Lindy C. Bathurst, Esq., and Nicholas L. Perry, Esq., Wiley Rein LLP, for TechTrans International, Inc., the intervenor. Sean M. Connolly, Esq., and Major Seth B. Ritzman, Department of the Army, 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 Protest that the agency unreasonably evaluated the awardee’s proposal is denied where the record shows that the evaluation was reasonable and consistent with the terms of the solicitation. DECISION   National Conferencing, Inc. d/b/a Federal Conference.com (FedCon), of Dumfries, Virginia, protests the award of an indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract to TechTrans International, Inc., of Houston, Texas, under request for proposals (RFP) No. W9124J-19-R-0003, issued by the Department of the Army for event planning and logistical support services.  FedCon, the incumbent contractor, alleges that the agency unreasonably evaluated TechTrans’s proposal as technically acceptable. We deny the protest. BACKGROUND On August 8, 2019, the agency issued the RFP to procure event planning, coordination, and logistical support services for the Army Chaplain Corps.  Agency Report (AR) Tab 15, RFP, amend. 4 at 3.  The selected contractor would provide these services to support events designed to meet the religious, spiritual, and relational needs of Army soldiers and their families.  RFP, amend. 4 at 3.  The solicitation contemplated two types of events, standard and specialized.  RFP, amend. 4 at 14.  For standard events, the selected contractor would provide a logistical support package (LSP) consisting of conference space, audio/visual support, childcare, transportation, training activity, curriculum, food, and lodging.  Id.  For specialized events, the LSP required the selected contractor to provide additional services, and to perform on-site logistical support during the event (e.g., register attendees, coordinate room setup, and distribute training materials).  Id.  The RFP contemplated the award of a fixed‑price IDIQ contract to be performed over a 5-year ordering period with task orders issued annually.  RFP, amend. 4 at 14.  Award would be made on a lowest-price, technically acceptable basis considering technical, financial capability, past performance, and price factors.  Id. at 50-51.  The technical factor consisted of three subfactors:  staffing/management approach; operational management; and, data/account management and reporting.  Id. at 51. Of relevance here, the solicitation instructed offerors that their staffing/management approaches should demonstrate the ability to provide a staffing and management approach for the standard LSP.  RFP, amend. 4 at 45.  The agency would evaluate each offeror’s ability to provide a staffing/management approach satisfying all performance work statement (PWS) requirements.  Id. at 51-52.  The PWS contained a specific task list requiring the selected contractor to demonstrate ability to provide the requisite services, such as providing meeting space, audio/visual support, and transportation.  Id. at 20-26. The RFP advised that proposals must demonstrate five criteria to be considered acceptable under the staffing/management subfactor.  RFP, amend. 4 at 52.  First, the organizational chart should outline the offeror’s entire business process, describe the management structure, project each event planner to manage between 150 and 220 events annually, and provide a staffing and management approach for each tier of execution.  Id.  Second, proposals should demonstrate a voluntary turnover rate of 25 percent or less.  Id.  Third, proposals should include resumes for key personnel meeting the minimum experience and certification requirements.  Id.