AnaVation LLC (70QS0223R00003063)

B-421966,B-421966.2,B-421966.3 Dec 19, 2023 Jump To FULL REPORT VIEW DECISION RELATED PAGES GAO CONTACTS Highlights AnaVation LLC, of Reston, Virginia, protests the issuance of a task order to Deloitte Consulting LLP of Arlington, Virginia by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) under request for task order proposals (RFTOP) No. 70QS0223R00003063, for mission solutions and data operations support to provide information technology (IT) services for technical project management support and the technology development of products. The protester challenges the agency's evaluation of proposals and resulting source 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: AnaVation LLC File: B-421966; B-421966.2; B-421966.3 Date: December 19, 2023 Jon W. Burd, Esq., John R. Prairie, Esq., Joshua B. Simmons, Esq., and Morgan W. Huston, Esq., Wiley Rein LLP, for the protester. Keith R. Szeliga, Esq., Shaunna Bailey, Esq., and Lillia J. Damalouji, Esq., Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP, for Deloitte Consulting, LLP, the intervenor. Christian M. Butler, Esq., Department of Homeland Security, for the agency. Samantha S. Lee, Esq., and Peter H. Tran, Esq., Office of the General Counsel, GAO, participated in the preparation of the decision. DIGEST 1. Protests that agency unreasonably evaluated proposals are denied where evaluation was consistent with the stated evaluation criteria. 2. Evaluation of awardee’s key personnel was proper where agency reasonably determined that resumes of awardee’s proposed personnel demonstrated compliance with solicitation’s minimum qualifications. 3. Protest that agency unreasonably evaluated staffing approaches is denied where the protester has not demonstrated that the agency was obligated to consider the awardee’s performance of different task order in its evaluation under this solicitation. DECISION AnaVation LLC, of Reston, Virginia, protests the issuance of a task order to Deloitte Consulting LLP of Arlington, Virginia by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) under request for task order proposals (RFTOP) No. 70QS0223R00003063, for mission solutions and data operations support to provide information technology (IT) services for technical project management support and the technology development of products. The protester challenges the agency’s evaluation of proposals and resulting source selection decision. We deny the protest. BACKGROUND On July 25, 2023, using the procedures of Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) subpart 16.5, DHS issued the solicitation to holders of the agency’s Services, Technology, Engineering, and Management (STEAM) indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) multiple award contract. Agency Report (AR), Tab B.2, Attach. 1, RFTOP at 2.[1] The RFTOP sought proposals for “technical project management and technical expertise to develop and operationalize data applications, analytics, services and to build artificial intelligence and machine learning capabilities for the DHS Intelligence Enterprise,” using government classified and unclassified platforms. Id. at 6. The RFTOP anticipated issuance of a single time-and-materials task order on a best-value tradeoff basis, considering price and the following non-price factors: (1) technical; and (2) management.[2] Id. at 42. The technical factor was more important than the management factor, and the two non-price factors combined were significantly more important than price. Id. As relevant here, the technical factor was to be evaluated based on an oral presentation addressing three scenarios provided in the RFTOP. Id. at 20-21. The management factor required offerors to identify nine key personnel and submit an explanation of their proposed approaches to providing and maintaining key personnel and other staff members. Id. at 30-32. The solicitation set forth a two-phase source selection process. In phase 1, the agency would evaluate the two non-price factors. Id. at 35. After the phase 1 evaluation, the agency would issue advisory “down-select” notifications to each offeror. Firms receiving notice that they were among the most highly rated offerors would be advised to proceed to phase 2, the price evaluation.[3] Id. The agency received four phase 1 proposals by the August 2, deadline. COS at 4. Following the oral presentations and evaluation, DHS advised two offerors, including AnaVation, that they were not among the most highly rated and advised not to proceed to phase 2. COS at 5. Two offerors, including Deloitte, were notified that that they were among the most highly rated. Id. All four offerors elected to proceed to phase 2. Id. Phase 2 proposals were due by August 17. Id.