Converge Networks Corporation (47QTCB20Q0031)

B-419643 Jun 14, 2021 Jump To VIEW DECISION DOWNLOADS RELATED PAGES GAO CONTACTS Highlights Converge Networks Corporation, a small business of Bethesda, Maryland, protests the issuance of a task order to ITegrity, Inc., under request for quotations (RFQ) No. 47QTCB20Q0031, issued by the General Services Administration (GSA) for data analytics operations. The protester challenges the agency's evaluation of its quotation as technically unacceptable, arguing that the agency unreasonably concluded that the quotation did not comply with the solicitation's requirements. 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:  Converge Networks Corporation File:  B-419643 Date:  June 14, 2021 Anthony S. Fernandez, Esq., Law Office of Anthony S. Fernandez, LLC, for the protester. Marie Cochran, Esq., General Services Administration, for the agency. Katherine I. Riback, Esq., and Evan C. Williams, Esq., Office of the General Counsel, GAO, participated in the preparation of the decision. DIGEST Protest of agency’s evaluation of a quotation as technically unacceptable after the agency concluded that an assumption in the quotation raised questions about whether the vendor fully understood the scope of the work required is denied where the record shows the agency’s evaluation conclusion was reasonable. DECISION Converge Networks Corporation, a small business of Bethesda, Maryland, protests the issuance of a task order to ITegrity, Inc., under request for quotations (RFQ) No. 47QTCB20Q0031, issued by the General Services Administration (GSA) for data analytics operations.  The protester challenges the agency’s evaluation of its quotation as technically unacceptable, arguing that the agency unreasonably concluded that the quotation did not comply with the solicitation’s requirements.  We deny the protest. BACKGROUND On November 18, 2020, GSA issued the RFQ, known as Enterprise Operations Solutions Support–Business Intelligence (EOSS-BI), under the procedures of Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) subpart 8.4, Federal Supply Schedules.  Agency Report (AR), Tab 3, RFQ at 1-2.[1]  The RFQ was issued to vendors holding a contract under GSA’s Multiple Award Schedule Information Technology Category (ITC) of the Information Technology (IT) Professional Services Schedule, SIN (special item number) 54151S.  Id. at 2.  The purpose of the EOSS-BI solicitation is to obtain data analytics operations to be performed on large sets of pricing and other data pertaining to GSA’s telecommunications contract.  Id. at 5.  The agency states that the EOSS-BI solicitation covers an ongoing need currently performed under a larger contract that includes the BI requirement, and infrastructure and platform components, referred to as business processes (BP).  The agency explains that these requirements, which had been procured together, will now be procured using two separate contracts; the contract known as EOSS-BP, awarded on November 24, 2020, and the EOSS-BI contract, the award of which is the subject of this protest.  AR, Tab 1, Contracting Officer Statement (COS) at 1. The solicitation contemplated the award of a fixed-price task order for a base period, from the date of award to September 30, 2021, and five 1-year option periods.  Award would be made on a best‑value tradeoff basis, considering the following evaluation factors, in descending level of importance:  technical approach, management approach,[2] past performance, and price.[3]  RFQ at 2, 64. Of relevance to this protest, the RFQ provided that vendors would develop a phase-in plan that addressed activities to migrate operations from the former contractor to the present contractor.  Id. at 13.  Along with providing information, such as processes and staffing, the RFQ also required the vendors to state the assumptions upon which their phase-in plans were based.  Id.  Specifically, the RFQ stated: Contract assumptions will be reviewed in the context of the elements to which they apply.  The government reserves the right to reject the quote if it includes any assumption that may adversely impact satisfying the government’s requirements.  Id.