SOC LLC (19AQMM21R0370)

B-420806 Aug 30, 2022 Jump To VIEW DECISION DOWNLOADS RELATED PAGES GAO CONTACTS Highlights SOC LLC, of Chantilly, Virginia, protests the issuance of a task order to Aegis Defense Services, LLC d/b/a GardaWorld Federal Services, of McLean, Virginia, under task order request for proposals (TORFP) No. 19AQMM21R0370, issued by the Department of State (DOS) for security services. SOC argues that the agency unreasonably evaluated its proposal, and improperly made the selection decision. 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: SOC LLC File: B-420806 Date: August 30, 2022 Robert J. Sneckenberg, Esq., Cherie Owen, Esq., James Peyster, Esq., and Amanda H. McDowell, Esq., Crowell & Moring LLP, for the protester. Gary J. Campbell, Esq., Kelly Doran, Esq., Suzanne Boehm, Esq., and Miles McCann, Esq., Perkins Coie LLP, for Aegis Defense Services, LLC d/b/a GardaWorld Federal Services, the intervenor. Kathleen D. Martin, Esq., Department of State, for the agency. Todd C. Culliton, Esq., and Tania Calhoun, Esq., Office of the General Counsel, GAO, participated in the preparation of the decision. DIGEST Protest that the agency unreasonably evaluated protester’s technical proposal is denied where the record shows that the evaluation was consistent with the stated evaluation criteria. DECISION SOC LLC, of Chantilly, Virginia, protests the issuance of a task order to Aegis Defense Services, LLC d/b/a GardaWorld Federal Services, of McLean, Virginia, under task order request for proposals (TORFP) No. 19AQMM21R0370, issued by the Department of State (DOS) for security services. SOC argues that the agency unreasonably evaluated its proposal, and improperly made the selection decision. We deny the protest. BACKGROUND On December 9, 2021, DOS issued the task order against the DOS Worldwide Protective Services (WPS) III indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract for guard, specialized security, and logistical support services at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, Iraq. Contracting Officer’s Statement (COS) at 1; Agency Report (AR), Tab 1, TORFP at 1-2; AR, Tab 2, TORFP, Performance Work Statement (PWS) at 3. The TORFP contemplated the issuance of a task order to be performed over a 1-year base period, nine 1-year option periods, and one 6-month extension period. TORFP at 1‑2. The task order contract would be issued on a best-value tradeoff basis considering technical approach, management strategy, past performance, and price factors. AR, Tab 4, TORFP, Evaluation Criteria at 1. The TORFP advised that the technical and past performance factors were the most important factors, and were equivalent. Id. The next most important factor was the management approach factor. Id. The least important factor was the price factor. Id. at 3. Both the technical approach and management strategy factors contained subfactors. The technical approach factor contained four subfactors: staffing plan; training management plan; mobilization and transition plan; and, logistics and property management and accountability plan. TORFP, Evaluation Criteria at 2. The management strategy contained three subfactors: management approach; quality control plan; and, key personnel. Id. DOS received four proposals prior to the February 4, 2022, close of the solicitation period. AR, Tab 11, Source Selection Decision Memorandum (SSDM) at 3. The agency’s evaluation produced the following relevant results:   SOC GardaWorld Technical Approach Acceptable Outstanding Management Strategy Marginal Good Past Performance Satisfactory Confidence Satisfactory Confidence Price $1,259,826,530 $1,182,295,174   Id. at 10-11. When evaluating SOC’s technical approach, the agency identified numerous weaknesses associated with the firm’s staffing approach. Id. at 13-14. The agency also identified several weaknesses present in the firm’s proposed management strategy, primarily involving the firm’s proposed key personnel not meeting the position requirements. Id. at 15. When making the best-value tradeoff determination, the agency identified GardaWorld’s proposal as offering the best value. AR, Tab 11, SSDM at 21. DOS compared SOC’s and GardaWorld’s proposals, and noted that GardaWorld’s proposal was technically superior and lower-priced. Id. at 16. Ultimately, the agency issued a task order contract to GardaWorld in the amount of $1,182,295,174. Id. at 21. After SOC learned that its proposal was unsuccessful, it filed this protest with our Office.[1] DISCUSSION SOC challenges multiple aspects of the agency’s evaluation. Generally, SOC argues that the agency unreasonably assigned multiple weaknesses to its technical approach and management strategy, and that the agency improperly made the selection decision.