Life Science Logistics, LLC (47QFCA22R0020)

B-421018.4,B-421018.5 Feb 27, 2024 Jump To FULL REPORT VIEW DECISION RELATED PAGES GAO CONTACTS Highlights Life Science Logistics, LLC (LSL), of Coppell, Texas, protests the award of a contract to Integrated Quality Solutions, LLC (IQS), of Memphis, Tennessee, under request for proposals (RFP) No. 47QFCA22R0020, issued by the General Services Administration (GSA) for warehousing and deployment services for pharmaceutical products and disaster relief supplies and equipment intended to support government disaster relief and preparedness efforts. The protester challenges the agency's evaluation of the offerors' technical proposals, its conduct of discussions, and the best-value tradeoff decision. We sustain 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: Life Science Logistics, LLC File: B-421018.4, B-421018.5 Date: February 27, 2024 Jennifer S. Zucker, Esq., David G. Mandelbaum, Esq., Christopher M. O’Brien, Esq., and Eleanor M. Ross, Esq., Greenberg Traurig, LLP, for the protester. Marie Cochran, Esq., and Nathan Bangsil, Esq., General Services Administration, for the agency. Michelle Litteken, Esq., and Christina Sklarew, Esq., Office of the General Counsel, GAO, participated in the preparation of the decision. DIGEST 1. Protest that awardee is ineligible for award for failing to provide an adequate facility availability letter is sustained where the submitted letter did not satisfy the solicitation’s requirements. 2. Protest alleging the agency failed to conduct meaningful discussions as part of its corrective action taken in response to a prior protest is sustained where, although the agency engaged in discussions, the agency failed to discuss with the protester a significant weakness identified by the agency in the protester’s revised proposal. 3. Protest challenging agency’s evaluation of proposals is denied where the agency’s evaluation was consistent with the solicitation and supported by the record. DECISION Life Science Logistics, LLC (LSL), of Coppell, Texas, protests the award of a contract to Integrated Quality Solutions, LLC (IQS), of Memphis, Tennessee, under request for proposals (RFP) No. 47QFCA22R0020, issued by the General Services Administration (GSA) for warehousing and deployment services for pharmaceutical products and disaster relief supplies and equipment intended to support government disaster relief and preparedness efforts. The protester challenges the agency’s evaluation of the offerors’ technical proposals, its conduct of discussions, and the best-value tradeoff decision. We sustain the protest. BACKGROUND The Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR), an operating agency of the Department of Health and Human Services, leads the nation’s medical and public health preparedness for response to, and recovery from, disasters and public health emergencies. Agency Report (AR), Tab 4, RFP at C-1. The strategic national stockpile, which contains the nation’s largest supply of potentially life-saving pharmaceuticals, medical supplies, medical equipment, and emergency supplies, is a key component of the ASPR’s mission. Id. On May 5, 2022, using the procedures of Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) parts 12 and 15, GSA issued the solicitation, seeking warehousing and deployment services for supplies and equipment intended to support government disaster relief and preparedness efforts. Contracting Officer Statement (COS) ¶ 2. The RFP sought a contractor to provide the necessary expertise for the suitable storage, management of medical products, monitoring, logistics, reporting, and emergency staging for delivery of government-provided medical supplies for a national emergency at a location serving the Northeast region of the United States, referred to as site F.[1] RFP at C-1. The solicitation contemplated the award of a contract with a 5-year base period and five 1‑year option periods. Id. at B-2 to B-9. GSA conducted the acquisition on behalf of the Department of Health and Human Services. COS ¶ 1. The solicitation established that award would be made using a best-value tradeoff based on the following factors, listed in descending order of importance: technical approach, management approach, past performance, and price. RFP at M-1 to M‑2, M‑4. All nonprice evaluation factors, when combined, were significantly more important than price. Id. at M-2. The solicitation stated that the agency’s intention was to make award without conducting discussions, but it reserved the right to hold discussions if it determined during the evaluation of proposals that discussions were necessary. Id. at L-2, M-1. As part of the technical proposal, offerors were required to submit a draft transition-in plan.[2] RFP at M-3.