Adams Communication & Engineering Technology, Inc. (RS3-19-0005)

B-419052,B-419052.2,B-419052.3 Dec 03, 2020 Jump To FULL REPORT VIEW DECISION RELATED PAGES GAO CONTACTS Highlights Adams Communication & Engineering Technology, Inc. (Adams), of Reston, Virginia, protests the issuance of a task order to Leidos, Inc., of Reston, Virginia, by the Department of the Army, Army Contracting Command, Aberdeen Proving Ground, under task order request for proposal (TORFP) No. RS3-19-0005, for contractor logistics support services. The task order is for contractor operations and logistics support services for Special Operations Command (SOCOM) tactical airborne multi-sensor platforms (STAMP). Adams, the immediate incumbent contractor, alleges that the agency unreasonably evaluated its proposal, failed to conduct meaningful discussions, treated the protester and the awardee disparately in the evaluation and made an unreasonable task order award 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:  Adams Communication & Engineering Technology, Inc. File:  B-419052; B-419052.2; B-419052.3 Date:  December 3, 2020 Scott F. Lane, Esq., Katherine S. Nucci, Esq., and Jayna M. Rust., Esq., Thompson Coburn LLP, for the protester. Paul F. Khoury, Esq., J. Ryan Frazee, Esq., Nicole E. Giles, Esq., and Nicholas L. Perry, Esq., Wiley Rein LLP, for Leidos, Inc., the intervenor. Matthew R. Wilson, Esq., and Justin D. Wilde, Esq., Department of the Army, for the agency. Paula A. Williams, Esq., and Edward Goldstein, Esq., Office of the General Counsel, GAO, participated in the preparation of the decision. DIGEST 1.  Protest challenging the reasonableness of an agency’s evaluation of the offerors’ technical approach is denied where the agency’s evaluations were reasonable and consistent with the solicitation and did not reflect unequal treatment.   2.  Protest that the agency failed to conduct meaningful discussions is denied where discussions identified all deficiencies, significant weaknesses and weaknesses in the protester’s proposal and were not misleading.  DECISION Adams Communication & Engineering Technology, Inc. (Adams), of Reston, Virginia, protests the issuance of a task order to Leidos, Inc., of Reston, Virginia, by the Department of the Army, Army Contracting Command, Aberdeen Proving Ground, under task order request for proposal (TORFP) No. RS3-19-0005, for contractor logistics support services.  The task order is for contractor operations and logistics support services for Special Operations Command (SOCOM) tactical airborne multi-sensor platforms (STAMP).  Adams, the immediate incumbent contractor, alleges that the agency unreasonably evaluated its proposal, failed to conduct meaningful discussions, treated the protester and the awardee disparately in the evaluation and made an unreasonable task order award decision. We deny the protest.  BACKGROUND The Army issued the TORFP[1] on September 16, 2019, to 210 holders of the Army’s Responsive Strategic Sourcing for Services multiple-award, indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract, under the fair opportunities provisions of Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) section 16.505.  TORFP at 2; Contracting Officer Statement and Memorandum of Law at 2.  The Army’s Project Manager Sensors-Aerial Intelligence Office has a current requirement to provide manned aerial intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance for SOCOM in support of overseas contingency operations.  The requirement includes continued support for multiple intelligence capabilities, including but not limited to electro-optical/infra-red (EO/IR) imagery intelligence, signals intelligence (SIGINT) in support of aerial-based intelligence collection, aerial-reconnaissance support team training, training for airborne sensor operators (ASO), and operations and sustainment (O&S) of aircraft platforms[2] for SOCOM.  Contracting Officer Statement and Legal Memorandum at 2.  As amended, the solicitation sought proposals for follow-on contractor provided operations and logistics support services for the STAMP.  TORFP at 1.  Under the performance work statement (PWS), the successful offeror[3] is to provide logistics support within the continental United States (CONUS) and OCONUS that includes mission planning, aircraft operations, primary mission equipment (PME) operations, aircraft and PME maintenance and sustainment, system integration, installation upgrades, engineering services, system deployment, and relocation and demobilization support for both CONUS and OCONUS operations.  Agency Report (AR) exh. 19, PWS at 2.  Other contractor provided support includes providing qualified pilots, ASOs, aircraft mechanics, technicians, PME technicians, and site leads at two OCONUS sites to support Central Command (CENTCOM) and Africa Command (AFRICOM).