SOC LLC (19AQMM19R0168)

B-418487.2,B-418487.3 Feb 04, 2021 Jump To FULL REPORT VIEW DECISION RELATED PAGES GAO CONTACTS Highlights SOC LLC, of Chantilly, Virginia, protests the issuance of a task order to Aegis Defense Services, LLC d/b/a GardaWorld Federal Services, of McLean, Virginia, under task order request for proposals (RFP) No. 19AQMM19R0168, issued by the Department of State (DOS) for security services. SOC complains that the agency unreasonably evaluated proposals and improperly made 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:  SOC LLC File:  B-418487.2; B-418487.3 Date:  February 4, 2021 Paul F. Khoury, Esq., Jon W. Burd, Esq., J. Ryan Frazee, Esq., Moshe B. Broder, Esq., and Nicole E. Giles, Esq., Wiley Rein LLP, for the protester. Paul E. Pompeo, Esq., Thomas A. Petit, Esq., and Trevor G. Schmitt, Esq., Arnold & Porter LLP, for Aegis Defense Services, LLC d/b/a GardaWorld Federal Services, the intervenor. Kathleen D. Martin, Esq., Department of State, 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 unreasonably evaluated technical and past performance proposals is denied where the record shows that the evaluations were consistent with the terms of the solicitation, and applicable procurement statutes and regulations. 2.  Protest that the agency unreasonably evaluated the protester’s management strategy and past performance is dismissed where the protester is not an interested party to raise those allegations. DECISION   SOC LLC, of Chantilly, Virginia, protests the issuance of a task order to Aegis Defense Services, LLC d/b/a GardaWorld Federal Services, of McLean, Virginia, under task order request for proposals (RFP) No. 19AQMM19R0168, issued by the Department of State (DOS) for security services.  SOC complains that the agency unreasonably evaluated proposals and improperly made the source selection decision. We deny the protest. BACKGROUND On August 5, 2019, DOS issued the RFP against the agency’s Worldwide Protective Services (WPS) II multiple-award indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract to procure protective, specialized security, and logistical support services at the U.S. Embassy Bangui in the Central African Republic.  Agency Report (AR), Tab 2, RFP, attach. A, Performance Work Statement (PWS) at 5-11.  The RFP contemplated the issuance of a fixed-price task order to be performed over a 1-year base period, four 1‑year option periods, and a 6-month extension period.  RFP at 13.  Award would be made on a best-value tradeoff basis considering technical approach, management strategy, past performance relevancy, past performance confidence, and price factors.  RFP, attach. H, Evaluation Criteria at 1.  The past performance confidence factor was more important than the other non-price factors, and all non-price factors were equal to the price factor.  Id. Four offerors, including SOC and GardaWorld, submitted proposals prior to the September 16, 2019, closing of the solicitation period.[1]  COS at 2.  The agency’s evaluation produced the following relevant results:   SOC GardaWorld Technical Approach Unacceptable Outstanding Management Strategy Marginal Good Past Performance Relevancy Very Relevant Very Relevant Past Performance Confidence Limited Confidence Substantial Confidence Risk Level Unacceptable Low Total Proposed Fixed Price $54,654,587 $58,261,414   AR, Tab 12, Source Selection Authority (SSA) Award Decision at 3.  Based on the evaluation results, the SSA concluded that SOC was ineligible for award because its proposal was assigned an “unacceptable” rating for its technical approach.  Id.