Global Solutions Ventures (7200AA21R00059)

B-420254,B-420254.2 Jan 11, 2022 Jump To FULL REPORT VIEW DECISION RELATED PAGES GAO CONTACTS Highlights Global Solutions Ventures, LLC, of Bethesda, Maryland, protests the issuance of a task order to Jefferson Consulting Group, LLC, of Washington, DC, under request for proposals (RFP) No. 7200AA21R00059, issued by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) for research and institutional and technical support services for USAID's Bureau of Africa. The protester contends the agency's evaluation of Jefferson's proposed approach to meeting the RFP's security clearance requirements and price realism analysis 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: Global Solutions Ventures File: B-420254; B-420254.2 Date: January 11, 2022 Richard L. Moorhouse, Esq., Christopher O’Brien, Esq., and Aaron Levin, Esq. Greenberg Traurig LLP, for the protester. Kristen E. Ittig, Esq., Nathaniel E. Castellano, Esq., and Nicole Williamson, Esq., Arnold & Porter LLP, for Jefferson Consulting Group, LLC, the intervenor. Eugene Benick, Esq., and John B. Alumbaugh, Esq., United States Agency for International Development, for the agency. Christopher Alwood, Esq., and Christina Sklarew, Esq., Office of the General Counsel, GAO, participated in the preparation of the decision. DIGEST 1. Protest that the agency unreasonably evaluated the awardee’s proposal with regard to the solicitation’s security clearance requirements is denied where the agency’s judgments were reasonable and consistent with the terms of the solicitation. 2. Protest that agency’s price realism analysis was inadequate is denied where the record shows that the agency conducted its price realism analysis using applicable price analysis techniques, and with results that were reasonable and consistent with the terms of the solicitation. DECISION Global Solutions Ventures, LLC, of Bethesda, Maryland, protests the issuance of a task order to Jefferson Consulting Group, LLC, of Washington, DC, under request for proposals (RFP) No. 7200AA21R00059, issued by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) for research and institutional and technical support services for USAID’s Bureau of Africa. The protester contends the agency’s evaluation of Jefferson’s proposed approach to meeting the RFP’s security clearance requirements and price realism analysis were unreasonable. We deny the protest. BACKGROUND On May 26, 2021, USAID issued the RFP to firms holding contracts under the General Services Administration’s (GSA) One Acquisition Solution for Integrated Services Small Business (OASIS SB) Pool 1 governmentwide acquisition contract (GWAC). Contracting Officer’s Statement (COS) at 1. The RFP was issued as a set-aside procurement for women-owned small businesses. Agency Report (AR), Tab 2, RFP Amendment 0001 at 1. The RFP contemplated the issuance of a task order for a 5-year period, to provide institutional support services[1] to USAID’s Bureau for Africa. RFP at 9‑10.[2] The RFP provided for the issuance of the task order on a best-value tradeoff basis, considering price and three non-price evaluation factors, in descending order of importance: (1) technical approach; (2) organizational capability; and (3) key personnel and management structure. Id. at 74. The RFP assigned each factor an associated number of points so that offerors would “know which areas require emphasis in the preparation of proposals,” but did not describe whether or how points would be assessed as part of the evaluation. Id. The RFP noted that, in making the source selection decision, if the contracting officer determined that competing technical proposals were “essentially equal, cost factors may become the determining factor.” Id. at 75. As relevant here, section C.7.1 of the RFP, entitled “Facilities and Data Security,” stated in relevant part: Under this Classified Contract, the Contractor must possess and maintain a facility Security (Top Secret level) clearance from the Defense Security Service (DSS) that will allow the Contractor to request the processing and issuance of Top Secret security clearances for Contractor employees. USAID will accept offers from firms with a SECRET level [facility clearance (FCL)] at the time of proposal, but the offeror must demonstrate that they have an application in place at the time of award for a TOP SECRET FCL and have the ability to obtain the [Top Secret] Clearance for contractor staff by year 2 of the award. Alternatively, the offeror can demonstrate that they or their subcontractor has this ability at the time of award. Id. at 23. To evaluate the organizational capability factor, the agency would assess “the capability of the [o]fferor and any proposed subcontractors to deliver the required services.” Id.