VariQ-CV JV, LLC (70Z03819RM0000001)

B-418551,B-418551.3 Jun 15, 2020 Jump To FULL REPORT VIEW DECISION RELATED PAGES GAO CONTACTS Highlights VariQ-CV JV, LLC (VariQ), of Luray, Virginia, protests the issuance of a task order to CompQSoft, Inc., of Houston, Texas, under fair opportunity notice (FON) No. 70Z03891RM0000001, issued by the Department of Homeland Security, United States Coast Guard (USCG), for information technology (IT) support services. The protester challenges the agency's evaluation of the proposals and best-value determination, and argues that the agency conducted unequal discussions. 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:  VariQ-CV JV, LLC File:  B-418551; B-418551.3 Date:  June 15, 2020 Scott M. McCaleb, Esq., Tracye Winfrey Howard, Esq., J. Ryan Frazee, Esq., and Nicole E. Giles, Esq., Wiley Rein LLP, for the protester. Christopher R. Shiplett, Esq., Randolph Law, PLLC, for CompQSoft, Inc., the intervenor. Allen Lotz, Esq., Department of Homeland Security, for the agency. Young H. Cho, Esq., and Peter H. Tran, Esq., Office of the General Counsel, GAO, participated in the preparation of the decision. DIGEST Agency’s evaluation and selection of a higher-rated, lower-priced proposal for award are unobjectionable where the agency’s evaluation and best-value tradeoff decision were reasonable and consistent with the terms of the solicitation. DECISION VariQ-CV JV, LLC (VariQ), of Luray, Virginia, protests the issuance of a task order to CompQSoft, Inc., of Houston, Texas, under fair opportunity notice (FON) No. 70Z03891RM0000001, issued by the Department of Homeland Security, United States Coast Guard (USCG), for information technology (IT) support services.  The protester challenges the agency’s evaluation of the proposals and best-value determination, and argues that the agency conducted unequal discussions. We deny the protest. BACKGROUND The Coast Guard’s Aviation Logistics Center (ALC), Information Systems Division (ISD), provides IT support for the logistics programs supporting the Coast Guard’s aviation fleet and other selected government agencies.  Agency Report (AR), Tab 1, FON at 144.[1]  The solicitation sought, in general terms, services for IT support and the required on-site and off-site technical personnel for operational mission support for the Asset Logistics Management Information System, ALC-Logistics Support System Sensitive, and the Coast Guard Logistics Information Management System applications and enterprise systems.  Id. The solicitation was issued on October 11, 2019, pursuant to Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) subpart 16.5, to holders of the National Institutes of Health’s Chief Information Officer-Solutions and Partners 3, governmentwide acquisition contract.  Contracting Officer’s Statement (COS) at 1.  The solicitation contemplated the issuance of a fixed-priced task order for a 1-year base period and four 1-year option periods on a best-value tradeoff basis, considering the following five evaluation factors in descending order of importance:  relevant experience, past performance, technical capability, management approach, and price. [2]  FON at 123-124.  When combined, the non-price factors were significantly more important than price.  Id. at 123. The solicitation advised that the procurement would be conducted in two phases.  Id. at 123‑124.  Under phase 1, proposals would be evaluated under the two most important factors:  relevant experience and past performance.[3]  Id.  Based on the results of phase 1, offerors would be invited to participate in phase 2, during which the agency would assess the three remaining evaluation factors.  Id. at 124, 127. The agency received proposals from five offerors by the initial solicitation closing date, three of which, including VariQ and CompQSoft, proceeded to phase 2.  The results of the agency’s evaluation of these two proposals are as follows:[4] VariQ CompQSoft Relevant Experience High Confidence High Confidence Past Performance Superior Superior Technical Capability Some Confidence High Confidence Management Approach Some Confidence High Confidence Price $47,936,412 $47,111,418 AR, Tab 10, Source Selection Decision Document (SSDD) at 3. The source selection authority (SSA) conducted a comparative assessment of the proposals and a performed a best-value tradeoff, finding CompQSoft’s proposal to provide the best value to the government.  Id.