Valiant Global Defense Services, Inc. (N6134022R0029)

B-421550.2,B-421550.5,B-421550.6 Jun 27, 2023 Jump To FULL REPORT VIEW DECISION RELATED PAGES GAO CONTACTS Highlights Valiant Global Defense Services, Inc. (Valiant), of Herndon, Virginia, protests the issuance of a task order to Fidelity Technologies Corporation (Fidelity), of Reading, Pennsylvania, pursuant to request for proposals (RFP) No. N6134022R0029, issued by the Department of the Navy, for flight instructional services. The protester contends the agency's evaluation of its proposal under the technical factor was unreasonable and inconsistent with the terms of the solicitation, and that the best-value tradeoff determination was flawed. 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: Valiant Global Defense Services, Inc. File: B-421550.2; B-421550.5; B-421550.6 Date: June 27, 2023 Aron C. Beezley, Esq., and Lisa A. Markman, Esq., Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP, for the protester. Jason A. Blindauer, Esq., Blindauer Law, PLLC, for Fidelity Technologies Corporation, the intervenor. Stephen J. Faherty Jr., Esq., and Patrick D. Healy, Esq., Department of the Navy, for the agency. Michael P. Grogan, Esq., and Evan D. Wesser, Esq., Office of the General Counsel, GAO, participated in the preparation of the decision. DIGEST 1. Protester’s challenge to the agency’s evaluation of its proposal under the technical factor is denied where the evaluation was reasonable and consistent with the terms of the solicitation. 2. Protest challenging agency’s best-value tradeoff decision is denied where the tradeoff was reasonable, sufficiently documented, and consistent with the terms of the solicitation. 3. Protest alleging that the awardee materially misrepresented the participation of a potential subcontractor is dismissed where the allegation is speculative and based on unsupported evidence. DECISION Valiant Global Defense Services, Inc. (Valiant), of Herndon, Virginia, protests the issuance of a task order to Fidelity Technologies Corporation (Fidelity), of Reading, Pennsylvania, pursuant to request for proposals (RFP) No. N6134022R0029, issued by the Department of the Navy, for flight instructional services. The protester contends the agency’s evaluation of its proposal under the technical factor was unreasonable and inconsistent with the terms of the solicitation, and that the best-value tradeoff determination was flawed. We deny the protest. BACKGROUND The agency issued the solicitation on September 14, 2022, under the Navy’s Field Training Support Systems V multiple-award indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract, pursuant to the procedures of Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) subpart 16.5.[1] Agency Report (AR), Tab 9, RFP at 1. The solicitation contemplated the issuance of a single task order, with fixed-price and cost-reimbursement contract line items, and a 7-month base period of performance and four, 1‑year option periods. Id. at 4-39. The Navy sought contractor instructional services for naval aviation training at several naval air stations. Contracting Officer’s Statement (COS) at 1. Services will include in-person, one-on-one flight training instruction, and ground and academic instruction using training aircraft, training aircraft simulators, and part-task trainers. Id. The solicitation advised that award would be made on a best-value tradeoff basis, considering two factors: (1) technical; and (2) price. RFP at 93-94. The technical factor had two subfactors: (a) management approach; and (b) staffing approach. Id. at 94. The solicitation explained the Navy would “evaluate each Offeror’s Technical Proposal to assess: the adequacy of the proposed approach; whether the proposal contains any perceived benefits; and whether the approach presents any perceived risks.” Id. at 95. The agency would assign one of five technical ratings, and one of four technical risk ratings, under the technical factor.[2] Id. at 94. Price would be evaluated for completeness, reasonableness, and realism. Id. at 96. The solicitation further advised that the technical factor was significantly more important than price. Id. at 94. The agency received proposals from multiple offerors by the submission deadline. COS at 12-13. The Navy evaluated the proposals of Valiant and Fidelity as follows:   Valiant Fidelity Technical Rating Acceptable Outstanding Technical Risk Rating Low Low Price $231,650,135 $240,398,291   AR, Tab 68, Selection Official’s Decision Document (SODD) at 3. The selection official (SO) concluded that Fidelity’s proposal represented the best value to the Navy. Id. at 13.