Omni2H, LLC (FA8530-19-R-0001)

B-418655 Jul 16, 2020 Jump To VIEW DECISION DOWNLOADS RELATED PAGES GAO CONTACTS Highlights Omni2H, LLC, of La Mesa, California, protests the Department of the Air Force's award of a contract to Digitized Schematic Solutions, LLC (DSS), of Warren, Michigan, pursuant to request for proposals (RFP) No. FA8530-19-R-0001, to provide sustainment of technical orders and engineering data support services. Omni2H challenges the agency's risk assessment; determination not to conduct discussions; price evaluation; and best-value tradeoff determination. We deny the protest. View Decision DOCUMENT FOR PUBLIC RELEASE The decision issued on the date below was subject to a GAO Protective Order. The entire decision has been approved for public release. Decision Matter of:  Omni2H, LLC File:  B-418655 Date:  July 16, 2020 Wayne A. Keup, Esq., Wayne A. Keup, PLLC, for the protester. Devon E. Hewitt, Esq., Protorae Law PLLC, for Digitized Schematic Solutions, LLC, the intervenor. Colonel Patricia S. Wiegman-Lenz, Colby L. Sullins, Esq., Major David Gilkes, Charles Epperson, Esq., and W. Jacob Worthan, Esq., Department of the Air Force, for the agency. Glenn G. Wolcott, Esq., and Christina Sklarew, Esq., Office of the General Counsel, GAO, participated in the preparation of the decision. DIGEST 1.  Agency’s risk assessment was reasonable and consistent with the terms of the solicitation. 2.  In Department of Defense procurement valued in excess of $100 million, agency’s decision not to conduct discussions was reasonable where the record supports the agency’s determination that award on the basis of initial proposals was in the government’s best interest.  3.  Agency reasonably determined that awardee’s cost/price was reasonable based on comparison of the awardee’s cost/price to that of other offerors and to an independent government cost estimate.  4.  Agency’s best-value tradeoff determination was reasonably based on the source selection authority’s consideration of the relative merits and risks presented by the protester’s and awardee’s proposals, along with the difference in cost/prices. DECISION   Omni2H, LLC, of La Mesa, California, protests the Department of the Air Force’s award of a contract to Digitized Schematic Solutions, LLC (DSS), of Warren, Michigan, pursuant to request for proposals (RFP) No. FA8530-19-R-0001, to provide sustainment of technical orders and engineering data support services.  Omni2H challenges the agency’s risk assessment; determination not to conduct discussions; price evaluation; and best-value tradeoff determination. We deny the protest. BACKGROUND In June 2019, the agency issued RFP No. FA8530-19-R-0001,[1] seeking proposals to provide technical data support services for the Air Force.[2]  The solicitation provided for  award of a single indefinite-delivery indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract[3] for a 1-year base period and four 1-year ordering periods; stated that award would be made on the basis of a best-value tradeoff; and established two evaluation factors:  technical and cost/price.  AR, Tab 4, RFP at 245, 325.  The solicitation also identified three equally weighted technical subfactors[4] that would be rated with regard to acceptability and risk,[5] and provided for a tradeoff between technical risk and cost/price.[6]  Id. at 325.  In this context, each offeror was required to identify potential performance risks in its technical proposal, and provide its proposed mitigation of such risks.  Id. at 322-23.  Of particular relevance to this protest, the solicitation provided that the contractor “shall be proficient in sustainment of S1000D”[7] and will be required to integrate “legacy technical data into a TMSS [technical manual specifications and standards] compliant S1000D IETM [interactive electronic technical manual].”  RFP at 129, 138.  With regard to performance under subfactor 3, awardable task, the solicitation identified particular activities that will require S1000D capabilities, including IETM (interactive electronic technical manual) support, id. at 375, and provided that, in evaluating proposals under that subfactor, the agency would consider whether a proposal reflected the “appropriate labor skills mix and hours.”  Id. at 327.  The solicitation further provided that the contractor “shall employ and maintain a technically trained and experienced work force compatible with the scope of work defined within this contract”; and “shall ensure that all training requirements for the newly hired employee(s) are completed before the contract start date.”  Id. at 147-48.  Finally, the solicitation advised offerors that the agency did not intend to conduct discussions, stating:  “The Government intends to award without discussions.  The Government, however, reserves the right to conduct discussions if deemed in its best interest.”  Id.