Koniag Management Solutions, Inc. (88310323Q00038)

B-421937 Dec 07, 2023 Jump To VIEW DECISION DOWNLOADS RELATED PAGES GAO CONTACTS Highlights Koniag Technology Solutions, Inc. (KTS), a small disadvantaged business of Chantilly, Virginia, protests the establishment of a blanket purchase agreement (BPA) with AccelGov, LLC, under request for quotations (RFQ) No. 88310323Q00038, issued by the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) to provide the agency's enterprise-wide information technology (IT) services. The protester challenges the agency's evaluation of its quotation and resulting 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 version has been approved for public release. Decision Matter of: Koniag Technology Solutions, LLC File: B-421937 Date: December 7, 2023 Devon E. Hewitt, Esq., and Matthew L. Nicholson, Esq., Potomac Law Group, PLLC, for the protester. Emily J. Chancey, Esq., W. Brad English, Esq., and Jon D. Levin, Esq., Maynard Nexsen, P.C., for AccelGov, LLC, the intervenor. Stephani L. Abramson, Esq., and Jennifer Klein, Esq., National Archives and Records Administration, for the agency. Kyle E. Gilbertson, Esq., and Peter H. Tran, Esq., Office of the General Counsel, GAO, participated in the preparation of the decision. DIGEST Protest challenging the evaluation of the protester’s quotation is denied where the record demonstrates that the evaluation was reasonable and consistent with the terms of the solicitation. DECISION Koniag Technology Solutions, Inc. (KTS), a small disadvantaged business of Chantilly, Virginia, protests the establishment of a blanket purchase agreement (BPA) with AccelGov, LLC, under request for quotations (RFQ) No. 88310323Q00038, issued by the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) to provide the agency’s enterprise-wide information technology (IT) services. The protester challenges the agency’s evaluation of its quotation and resulting selection decision. We deny the protest. BACKGROUND The agency issued the RFQ on May 15, 2023, under the General Services Administration (GSA) Federal Supply Schedule (FSS) Information Technology – IT Services, Category 54151S, Information Technology Professional Services contract. Agency Report (AR), Tab 4, RFQ at 2; AR, Tab 9, Vendor Selection Decision at 3.[1] The RFQ, set aside for small business and issued under Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) subpart 8.4, sought quotations to establish a single-award BPA with a vendor to perform the agency’s enterprise-wide IT services, referred to as NARA’s Information Technology and Telecommunications Support Services (NITTSS) contract. RFQ at 2, 6; Contracting Officer’s Statement (COS) at 2. The solicitation anticipated establishing a BPA consisting of a base year and four 1‑year option periods, and contemplated issuing orders against that BPA on a fixed-price, time-and-materials, or hybrid basis. RFQ at 4. The total not-to-exceed ceiling value for this BPA is $99 million. Id. Award would be made on a best-value tradeoff basis, considering the following four evaluation factors: (1) technical understanding and approach; (2) management and quality control; (3) relevant past performance; and (4) price. Id. at 52. The three non-price (technical) factors were of equal importance, and when combined, were more important than price. Id. The agency received quotations from six vendors prior to the RFQ’s June 14 submission deadline. COS at 2. In assessing the quotations, the agency evaluation team (ET) documented their evaluation conclusions using written narratives that identified strengths, weaknesses, significant weaknesses, and deficiencies. AR, Tab 9, Vendor Selection Decision at 3-97. The contracting officer, as the source selection authority (SSA), conducted an independent review of the quotations, as well as reviewing the ET’s evaluation findings and recommendations. Id. at 4-5, 17-18. Ultimately, the SSA concluded that AccelGov’s quotation, with an evaluated price of approximately $41M, provided the best value to the government, considering the evaluation factors, and established the BPA with AccelGov on August 21. Id. at 7, 17-18. The agency notified KTS of its selection decision on August 22, and later provided a brief explanation of the decision on August 29. Protest at 4. This protest followed. DISCUSSION The protester challenges the agency’s evaluation of KTS’s technical quotation. Protest at 4-5. Specifically, the protester contests the agency’s assessment of a deficiency under the management and quality control factor related to the experience of KTS’s service desk manager.[2] Id. Had the agency reasonably evaluated the protester’s quotation, KTS argues, the firm would have been selected for the BPA award. Id. at 6.