Ortho-Clinical Diagnostics, Inc. (N62645-20-R-0004)

B-418946 Oct 23, 2020 Jump To VIEW DECISION DOWNLOADS RELATED PAGES GAO CONTACTS Highlights Ortho-Clinical Diagnostics, Inc. (Ortho), of Rochester, New York, protests the award of a contract to Beckman Coulter, Inc., of Brea, California, under request for quotations (RFQ) No. N6264520R0004, issued by the Department of the Navy, Naval Medical Logistics Command for two clinical chemistry/immunoassay laboratory analyzer systems and one laboratory automation system, to provide laboratory testing of patient specimens at the Naval hospital in Jacksonville, Florida. Ortho contends that the agency unreasonably evaluated its quotation and failed to conduct meaningful discussions. We deny the protest. View Decision Decision Matter of:  Ortho-Clinical Diagnostics, Inc. File:  B-418946 Date:  October 23, 2020 DeAnna Scarfone, Ortho-Clinical Diagnostics, Inc., for the protester. Aimee Rider, Esq., and Julia P. Hatch, Esq., Department of the Navy, for the agency. John Sorrenti, Esq., and Christina Sklarew, Esq., Office of the General Counsel, GAO, participated in the preparation of the decision. DIGEST 1.  Protest that agency’s evaluation of protester’s quotation was unreasonable is denied where record shows that evaluation was reasonable and consistent with the solicitation. 2.  Protest alleging lack of meaningful discussions where the protester did not receive or respond to the agency’s discussions letter is denied where the record shows that the agency did not cause the non-receipt of the discussions letter or the protester’s failure to respond, and the protester failed to inform agency of the unavailability of the protester’s point of contact. DECISION   Ortho-Clinical Diagnostics, Inc. (Ortho), of Rochester, New York, protests the award of a contract to Beckman Coulter, Inc., of Brea, California, under request for quotations (RFQ) No. N6264520R0004, issued by the Department of the Navy, Naval Medical Logistics Command for two clinical chemistry/immunoassay laboratory analyzer systems and one laboratory automation system, to provide laboratory testing of patient specimens at the Naval hospital in Jacksonville, Florida.  Ortho contends that the agency unreasonably evaluated its quotation and failed to conduct meaningful discussions. We deny the protest. BACKGROUND The RFQ contemplated award of a fixed-price contract on a best-value tradeoff basis considering six evaluation factors:  conformance to essential characteristics; information assurance; design quality and capability; past performance; price; and small business subcontracting plan.  Agency Report (AR), Tab 1, RFQ at 14.  As relevant here, under the conformance to essential characteristics factor, the RFQ instructed vendors to “include information to enable the evaluation of the proposed product and its conformance to the essential characteristics by submitting a quote including all necessary documentation demonstrating that its solution meets all of the requirements within the [e]ssential [c]haracteristics.”[1]  Id. at 13.  The RFQ stated that the agency would evaluate whether the quoted analyzer met the essential characteristics for this requirement; if it did not, that quotation would not be considered for award.  Id. at 14. The agency received quotations from five vendors, including Ortho.  AR, Tab 11, Technical Evaluation at 1.  The agency’s evaluators found that none of the quotations were technically acceptable.  Id. at 3-4.  In particular, the agency found that Ortho’s quotation failed to meet almost all of the essential characteristics requirements.  Id. at 14-17.  For many of the essential characteristics, Ortho’s quotation stated only that its “proposed solution meets this requirement,” and the agency found that Ortho “did not provide any information or documentation to support how the requirement is met.”  See id.  Accordingly, the agency rated Ortho’s quotation as “fail” under the conformance to essential characteristics factor.[2]  Id.