Acoustic Technology, Inc- dba ATI Systems (FA670322R0003)

B-421148 Nov 22, 2022 Jump To VIEW DECISION DOWNLOADS RELATED PAGES GAO CONTACTS Highlights Acoustic Technology, Inc., doing business as ATI Systems (ATI), a small business of Boston, Massachusetts, protests the award of a contract to EWING Engineered Solutions, of Allen, Texas, under request for proposals (RFP) No. FA670322R0003, which was issued by the Department of the Air Force for the upgrade of a Giant Voice (GV) alert system at Dobbins Air Reserve Base (ARB) in Marietta, Georgia. The protester challenges the agency's evaluation of proposals and resulting award decision. We deny the protest. View Decision Decision Matter of: Acoustic Technology, Inc. File: B-421148 Date: November 22, 2022 Antonio P. Cracchiolo and Tarek Bassiouni, for the protester. Nicholas T. Iliff, Esq., and Erika Whelan Retta, Esq., Department of the Air Force, for the agency. Nathaniel S. Canfield, Esq., and Evan D. Wesser, Esq., Office of the General Counsel, GAO, participated in the preparation of the decision. DIGEST Protest challenging evaluation of protester’s proposal as technically unacceptable is denied where the agency’s evaluation was reasonable and in accordance with the terms of the solicitation. DECISION Acoustic Technology, Inc., doing business as ATI Systems (ATI), a small business of Boston, Massachusetts, protests the award of a contract to EWING Engineered Solutions, of Allen, Texas, under request for proposals (RFP) No. FA670322R0003, which was issued by the Department of the Air Force for the upgrade of a Giant Voice (GV) alert system at Dobbins Air Reserve Base (ARB) in Marietta, Georgia. The protester challenges the agency’s evaluation of proposals and resulting award decision. We deny the protest. BACKGROUND The agency issued the RFP as a combined synopsis/solicitation pursuant to Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) parts 12 and 13 on July 18, 2022, and subsequently amended it three times. Contracting Officer’s Statement (COS) at 2, 4.[1] The RFP sought proposals to engineer, design, furnish, install, and test a turnkey GV system including outdoor GV and indoor “small voice” for buildings at Dobbins ARB. Agency Report (AR), Tab 6, Statement of Work (SOW) at 2. The upgraded system must provide sufficient intelligible voice coverage for the entire base populace with real‑time emergency alerting messages and accurate health system status, as well as other specified features, and must be compatible with a government‑furnished network alerting system. Id. The RFP stated that the agency was utilizing FAR part 13 simplified acquisition procedures, and provided that a single, fixed‑price contract would be awarded on a lowest‑priced, technically acceptable basis using a single technical capability factor comprising three subfactors. AR, Tab 3, RFP at 12‑13. To be found acceptable under the technical capability factor, a proposal was required to be evaluated as acceptable under each subfactor: critical path;[2] written narrative; and contractor qualifications. Id. at 13. As relevant here, the written narrative subfactor required offerors to submit a narrative of their technical approach to allow for an evaluation of design, method of installation, and equipment meeting or exceeding the SOW’s requirements. Id. at 10. To be found acceptable under that subfactor, the RFP required a proposal to demonstrate a sound and thorough plan clearly outlining the offeror’s technical approach to providing the required system upgrade and meeting the equipment specifications and performance requirements of the SOW. Id. at 14. As revised through an amendment issued on August 22, 2022, the RFP’s contractor qualifications subfactor required offerors to submit documentation identifying the offeror as an authorized Motorola Solutions Partner. COS at 4; AR, Tab 8, RFP amend. 3 at 3. To be found acceptable under this subfactor, the RFP required a proposal to include documentation that the offeror was an authorized Motorola Solutions Partner, subject to validation with Motorola Solutions, Inc. AR, Tab 8, RFP amend. 3 at 3. The August 22 amendment also changed the proposal due date from August 23 to September 15. Id. at 1. Following receipt of proposals, the agency contacted ATI to request additional information regarding its proposed technical solution, and to confirm that ATI was a Motorola Solutions Partner. AR, Tab 12, ATI Clarification Email at 3. After the protester responded, the agency asked ATI how its name would appear in the Motorola Solutions Partner search engine. Id. at 2. The protester provided the agency with an excerpt of a statement of work between Motorola Solutions, Inc. and ATI, and stated that the agency may not find the protester in the search engine. Id. at 1. Thereafter, the agency contacted Motorola Solutions, Inc., which confirmed that the protester was not an authorized Motorola Solutions Partner. AR, Tab 13, Motorola Solutions, Inc.