Dev Technology Group, Inc. (70CTD021R00000013)

B-420230,B-420230.2 Jan 05, 2022 Jump To FULL REPORT VIEW DECISION RELATED PAGES GAO CONTACTS Highlights Dev Technology Group, Inc. (Dev Tech), of Reston, Virginia, protests the award of a task order by the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), to Harmonia Holdings Group, LLC, of Blacksburg, Virginia, pursuant to request for proposals (RFP) No. 70CTD021R00000013, to provide various information technology (IT) services. Dev Tech challenges multiple aspects of the agency's evaluation and source selection process, including: the agency's assessment of risk in Dev Tech's proposed technical approach; the agency's conduct of oral presentations; and Harmonia's compliance with the solicitation provisions related to transition. We deny the protest. View Decision DOCUMENT FOR PUBLIC RELEASE The decision issued on the date below was subject to a GAO Protective Order. The entire decision has been approved for public release. Decision Matter of:  Dev Technology Group, Inc. File:  B-420230; B-420230.2 Date:  January 5, 2022 William A. Shook, Esq., The Law Offices of William A. Shook PLLC, for the protester. Jon D. Levin, Esq., Maynard Cooper & Gale, PC, for Harmonia Holdings Group, LLC, the intervenor. Douglas J. Becker, Esq., Department of Homeland Security, for the agency. Glenn G. Wolcott, Esq., and Christina Sklarew, Esq., Office of the General Counsel, GAO, participated in the preparation of the decision. DIGEST 1.  Agency reasonably assessed a risk in protester’s proposal based on protester’s reliance on a less-senior labor mix than the labor mix suggested by the solicitation. 2.  Protest that during oral presentations, the agency failed to engage in an “interactive dialogue” with the protester regarding its proposed labor mix is denied where agency subsequently conducted discussions and provided the protester an opportunity to fully address its proposed labor mix.  3.  Where the solicitation specifically provided for a 3-month transition period, there is no merit in protester’s assertion that the non-incumbent awardee’s proposal failed to comply with the solicitation requirements regarding task order performance on “day one” after award. DECISION Dev Technology Group, Inc. (Dev Tech), of Reston, Virginia, protests the award of a task order by the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), to Harmonia Holdings Group, LLC, of Blacksburg, Virginia, pursuant to request for proposals (RFP) No. 70CTD021R00000013, to provide various information technology (IT) services.[1]  Dev Tech challenges multiple aspects of the agency’s evaluation and source selection process, including:  the agency’s assessment of risk in Dev Tech’s proposed technical approach; the agency’s conduct of oral presentations; and Harmonia’s compliance with the solicitation provisions related to transition.  We deny the protest.  BACKGROUND On July 15, 2021, pursuant to subpart 16.5 of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), the agency issued the RFP as a small business set-aside to holders of the Department of the Army’s Information Technology Enterprise Solutions - 3 Services (ITES-3S) multiple-award indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract.  Of relevance to this protest, the solicitation:  identified labor categories the agency believed to be necessary for task order performance; stated that the contractor “shall provide qualified experienced personnel . . . [and] deliver . . . technology solutions developed in a test-driven approach that enables ICE with highly effective quality applications”; and advised offerors that the agency’s “resourcing estimates . . . are based on . . . the following ITES-3S labor category resource mix (75% Senior Staff and 25% Intermediate).”[2]  AR, Tab 2, PWS at 7.  The solicitation contemplated issuance of a task order for a 12-month base period and four 1-year option periods, and provided for source selection based on a best-value tradeoff between price[3] and the following equally weighted non-price evaluation factors:  management approach/staffing plan; previous experience; and technical approach (via oral presentation).[4]  AR, Tab 2, RFP Instructions at 1, 9-11.  With regard to the source selection process, the solicitation contemplated two phases.  Under phase I, offerors were to submit written proposals for evaluation under the first two non-price factors--management approach/staffing plan and previous experience.  Following the agency’s evaluation of proposals under those factors, the solicitation provided that the agency would invite the most-highly rated offerors to participate in phase II by providing their technical approaches through recorded oral presentations.  Id.