Zolon PCS, LLC (NGA-NSE-TO0005)

B-419283 Jan 14, 2021 Jump To VIEW DECISION DOWNLOADS RELATED PAGES GAO CONTACTS Highlights Zolon PCS, LLC (Zolon), an 8(a) small business located in Ashburn, Virginia, protests the issuance of a task order to S2 Analytical Solutions, LLC (S2), a veteran-owned small business of Herndon, Virginia, under task order quotation request (TOQR) No. 0005, issued by the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) for systems engineering and integration (SE&I) support services. The protester argues that the agency’s evaluation of quotations and source selection decision were unreasonable. 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:  Zolon PCS, LLC File:  B‑419283 Date:  January 14, 2021 William T. Welch, Esq., and J. Patrick McMahon, Esq., McMahon, Welch and Learned, PLLC, for the protester. Aaron S. Ralph, Esq., John E. Jensen, Esq., and Robert C. Starling, Esq., Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP, for S2 Analytical Solutions, LLC, the intervenor. Daniel T. Lamb, Esq., and Major Jason A. Quinn, National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, for the agency. Sarah T. Zaffina, Esq., and Jennifer D. Westfall-McGrail, Esq., Office of the General Counsel, GAO, participated in the preparation of the decision. DIGEST 1.  Protest challenging the agency’s evaluation of the protester’s quotation as unacceptable and ineligible for award is denied where the quotation did not show that the candidate for one of the key personnel positions had the specific experience the solicitation identified as required experience for the position, and the resulting evaluation was reasonable and consistent with the solicitation. 2.  Protester’s challenges to other aspects of the evaluation are dismissed where the protester would not be competitively prejudiced by any misevaluation of its own quotation, and was not an interested party to challenge the evaluation of the successful vendor’s quotation because another acceptable vendor was next in line for award. DECISION Zolon PCS, LLC (Zolon), an 8(a) small business located in Ashburn, Virginia, protests the issuance of a task order to S2 Analytical Solutions, LLC (S2), a veteran‑owned small business of Herndon, Virginia, under task order quotation request (TOQR) No. 0005, issued by the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) for systems engineering and integration (SE&I) support services.[1]  The protester argues that the agency’s evaluation of quotations and source selection decision were unreasonable. We deny the protest. BACKGROUND NGA issued the TOQR on June 2, 2020, under Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) subpart 16.5 procedures to existing holders of the NGA Segment Engineering (NSE) indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) multiple‑award task order contract.[2]  Contracting Officer’s Statement/Memorandum of Law (COS/MOL) at 3; Agency Report (AR), Tab A.4.a, Statement of Work (SOW) at 4.[3]  The solicitation sought quotations for a full range of SE&I support services.[4]  COS/MOL at 3.  The TOQR anticipated issuance of a task order with fixed-price, level-of-effort terms for the labor element, and cost‑reimbursement terms for the other direct costs/travel elements, for a 1‑year base period and four 1‑year option periods.[5]  AR, Tab A.5, TOQR at 1; SOW at 21. The TOQR established that the task order would be issued on a best‑value tradeoff basis considering technical, security and price factors. The agency’s requirements were described in an attached SOW.  TOQR at 1, 10‑11.  Vendors were instructed not to “simply rephrase or restate” requirements in their quotations, and the solicitation cautioned that doing so could result in an unfavorable evaluation.  Id. at 1.  The TOQR directed vendors to “provide convincing rationale to address how the [v]endor intends to meet [the] requirements."  Id.  With respect to the technical factor, among other things, vendors were required to submit a key personnel skill matrix on a government-provided spreadsheet; the spreadsheet was organized by key position.[6]  Id. at 8; AR, Tab A.1.g, TOQR attach. G, Key Personnel Skill Matrix.  Vendors were to furnish specified information for each individual, including their name, education, certification, labor category, skill level, proposed position, years of related professional experience, relevant required experience, and relevant desired experience.  AR, Tab A.1.g, TOQR attach. G, Key Personnel Skill Matrix.  The matrix also provided detailed instructions for completing the spreadsheet, including the following directions with regard to the required relevant experience. Provide a brief description of the individual’s job experience related to all the required skills related to the position description they are proposed to.