Federal Management Systems, Inc. (RFQ-612366359)

B-422222,B-422222.2 Mar 06, 2024 Jump To FULL REPORT VIEW DECISION RELATED PAGES GAO CONTACTS Highlights Federal Management Systems, Inc. (FMS), a small business located in Washington, D.C., protests the issuance of a task order to Peridot Solutions, LLC, a small business located in McLean, Virginia, under request for quotations (RFQ) No. 612366359, issued by the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA), Defense Information Technology Contracting Office, for acquisition, contract management, and program support and portfolio management for DISA's digital capabilities and security center. FMS argues that the agency unreasonably evaluated quotations, failed to conduct a reasonable best-value tradeoff, and treated vendors disparately in making the source selection decision. We deny the protest. View Decision Decision Matter of: Federal Management Systems, Inc. File: B-422222; B-422222.2 Date: March 6, 2024 John R. Tolle, Esq., and H. Todd Wray, Esq., Baker, Cronogue, Tolle & Werfel, LLP, for the protester. Katherine B. Burrows, Esq., Isaias Alba, IV, Esq., Eric A. Valle, Esq., and Kelly Kirchgasser, Esq., PilieroMazza PLLC, for Peridot Solutions, LLC, the intervenor. Joshua D. Bell, Esq., and Susan M. Chagrin, Esq., Depaprtment of Defense, for the agency. Mary G. Curcio, Esq., and John Sorrenti, Esq., Office of the General Counsel, GAO, participated in the preparation of the decision. DIGEST 1. Protest challenging the evaluation of quotations is denied where the record shows that the evaluation was reasonable and consistent with the solicitation’s stated evaluation criteria. 2. In conducting best-value tradeoff, agency properly considered bases for underlying evaluation ratings, and not just the ratings themselves. 3. Agency did not treat protester disparately in best-value tradeoff where bases for finding favorable aspects of awardee’s quotation were not included in protester’s quotation. DECISION Federal Management Systems, Inc. (FMS), a small business located in Washington, D.C., protests the issuance of a task order to Peridot Solutions, LLC, a small business located in McLean, Virginia, under request for quotations (RFQ) No. 612366359, issued by the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA), Defense Information Technology Contracting Office, for acquisition, contract management, and program support and portfolio management for DISA’s digital capabilities and security center. FMS argues that the agency unreasonably evaluated quotations, failed to conduct a reasonable best-value tradeoff, and treated vendors disparately in making the source selection decision. We deny the protest. BACKGROUND On April 16, 2023, DISA issued the RFQ as a competitive small business set-aside using the ordering procedures of Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) section 8.405-5. Agency Report (AR), Tab 1, RFQ, amend. 1 at 1. The agency issued the RFQ pursuant to its program support service blanket purchase agreement, which previously had been established with five small business vendors. Memorandum of Law at 5. Vendors were required to hold a General Services Administration (GSA) multiple-award schedule (MAS) contract with professional services-business administrative services, special item number (SIN) 541611, or information technology professional services, SIN 54154S-SB. Electronic Protest Docketing System No. 28. The RFQ sought quotations for acquisition support, contract management, program support, and portfolio management for DISA’s digital capabilities and security center. AR, Tab 1b, Performance Work Statement (PWS) at 2. The RFQ contemplated issuance of a fixed-price task order for a 1-year base period, and four 1-year option periods. RFQ, amend. 1 at 1. The RFQ provided that award would be made on a best-value tradeoff basis, considering the following two factors: technical/management approach and price.[1] Id. at 3, 4. The technical/management approach factor included three equally weighted subfactors: (1) management related to PWS subtask 6.1.1, call order management support; (2) technical related to PWS subtask 6.3.1, acquisition expertise support; and (3) technical related to PWS subtask 6.3.2, contract documentation and processing support.[2] Id. The technical/management approach factor was more important than price. Id. DISA received timely quotations from three vendors, including the incumbent FMS and Peridot. MOL at 12. The technical evaluation team (TET) evaluated the technical quotations, assigning each subfactor an adjectival rating of outstanding, good, acceptable, marginal, or unacceptable, based on assessed strengths, weaknesses, and deficiencies.[3] AR, Tab 1f, Evaluation Tables at 1.