Barbaricum LLC (RS3-20-0008)

B-419826.4 Sep 23, 2022 Jump To VIEW DECISION DOWNLOADS RELATED PAGES GAO CONTACTS Highlights Barbaricum LLC, a service-disabled veteran-owned small business (SDVOSB) of Washington, D.C., protests the issuance of a task order to OBXTek, Inc., an SDVOSB of McLean, Virginia, under request for proposals (RFP) No. RS3-20-0008, issued by the Department of the Army, for enterprise information systems program management support. The protester contends the agency's best-value tradeoff was unreasonable and inconsistent with the terms of the solicitation. 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 version has been approved for public release. Decision Matter of: Barbaricum LLC File: B-419826.4 Date: September 23, 2022 Ryan C. Bradel, Esq., and Michael E. Hatch, Esq., Ward & Berry PLLC, for the protester. Lewis P. Rhodes Esq., McMahon, Welch and Learned, PLLC, for OBXTek, Inc., the intervenor. Jonathan A. Hardage, Esq., Department of the Army, for the agency. Michael P. Grogan, Esq., and Evan D. Wesser, Esq., Office of the General Counsel, GAO, participated in the preparation of the decision. DIGEST Protest challenging the agency’s best-value tradeoff decision is denied where the record reflects that the decision was reasonable, consistent with the terms of the solicitation, and adequately documented. DECISION Barbaricum LLC, a service-disabled veteran-owned small business (SDVOSB) of Washington, D.C., protests the issuance of a task order to OBXTek, Inc., an SDVOSB of McLean, Virginia, under request for proposals (RFP) No. RS3-20-0008, issued by the Department of the Army, for enterprise information systems program management support. The protester contends the agency’s best-value tradeoff was unreasonable and inconsistent with the terms of the solicitation. We deny the protest. BACKGROUND The agency issued the solicitation on July 23, 2020, as a small business set-aside, to firms holding the Army’s Responsive Strategic Sourcing for Services (RS3) multiple award indefinite-delivery indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract, pursuant to the procedures in Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) subpart 16.5. Agency Report (AR), Tab 3, RFP at 2, 5; Contracting Officer’s Statement and Memorandum of Law (COS/MOL) at 2-3.[1] The RFP contemplated the award of a single task order, with fixed-price and cost- reimbursement contract line items, with a 1-year base period of performance and four 1‑year option periods, for enterprise information systems program management support. RFP at 2; AR Tab 4, Performance Work Statement (PWS) at 4. Specifically, the agency sought contractor support in the areas of administration, operations, logistics, engineering, knowledge management, information technology, and program management support. PWS at 4. The solicitation advised that award would be made on best-value tradeoff basis, considering three factors: (1) technical capability; (2) management approach; and (3) price. RFP at 19. Under the technical capability factor, the agency would evaluate corporate experience, technical support abilities, and ability to provide program management support. Id. at 21-22. For the management approach factor, the Army would consider offerors’ management plans, proposed key personnel, and transition-in plan. Id. at 23-24. Price would be evaluated for reasonableness. Id. at 24. The Army would assign one of five technical/risk ratings for the non-price factors: blue/outstanding; purple/good; green/acceptable; yellow/marginal; or red/unacceptable. Id. at 19. As relevant to this protest, a blue/outstanding rating would be assigned where a proposal “indicates an exceptional approach and understanding of the requirements and contains multiple strengths, and risk of unsuccessful performance is low.” Id. A purple/good rating would be assigned were a proposal “indicates a thorough approach and understanding of the requirements and contains at least one strength, and risk of unsuccessful performance is low to moderate.” Id. The solicitation advised that the “Technical Capability Factor is approximately equal to the Management Approach Factor, and, when combined, the non-price factors are significantly more important than the Price Factor.” Id. at 18. Further, the RFP provided that if the “non-price factors are evaluated as comparatively equal between two (2) or more Offerors, Price may become a determinative factor.” Id. at 17. The Army received multiple proposals by the submission deadline, to include proposals from OBXTek and Barbaricum. AR, Tab 16 Task Order Decision Document (TODD) at 2. On April 22, 2021, the agency issued the task order to Barbaricum. Id. Two unsuccessful offerors filed protests with our Office, challenging the agency’s evaluation of proposals.