Science Applications International Corporation (TORFQ-2022T-07)

B-422244,B-422244.2 Mar 19, 2024 Jump To FULL REPORT VIEW DECISION RELATED PAGES GAO CONTACTS Highlights Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) of Reston, Virginia, protests the issuance of a task order to Peraton Aerospace and Defense, Inc., of Huntsville, Alabama, under task order request for quotations (TORFQ) No. 2022T-07, issued by the Department of the Army, Army Contracting Command--Redstone, for engineering support services. SAIC challenges various aspects of the agency's source selection process, including the consideration of alleged organizational conflicts of interest (OCIs), technical evaluation, and the best-value tradeoff 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: Science Applications International Corporation File: B-422244; B-422244.2 Date: March 19, 2024 Daniel R. Forman, Esq., William B. O’Reilly, Esq., and Emily P. Golchini, Esq., Crowell & Moring LLP, for the protester. Scott N. Flesch, Esq., Jason N. Workmaster, Esq., and Connor W. Farrell, Esq., Miller & Chevalier Chartered, for Peraton Aerospace & Defense, Inc., the intervenor. Amy Scott Wasyluka, Esq., and Wade L. Brown, Esq., Department of the Army, for the agency. April Y. Shields, Esq., and Christina Sklarew, Esq., Office of the General Counsel, GAO, participated in the preparation of the decision. DIGEST 1. Admission of outside counsel to protective order will not be revoked based on allegations of a conflict of interest where the allegations are related to attorney rules of professional conduct--a matter our Office does not adjudicate--and the allegations do not establish that the admitted attorneys would fail to honor their commitments under the protective order. 2. Protest alleging an impaired objectivity organizational conflict of interest is denied where the agency gave meaningful consideration to the potential for organizational conflicts of interest related to the awardee and there is no clear evidence in the record that the agency’s conclusion was unreasonable. 3. Protest challenging the agency’s assessment of a weakness in the protester’s technical quotation, as well as the best-value tradeoff decision, is denied where the evaluation and tradeoff decision were reasonable and consistent with the solicitation. DECISION Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) of Reston, Virginia, protests the issuance of a task order to Peraton Aerospace and Defense, Inc., of Huntsville, Alabama, under task order request for quotations (TORFQ) No. 2022T‑07, issued by the Department of the Army, Army Contracting Command--Redstone, for engineering support services. SAIC challenges various aspects of the agency’s source selection process, including the consideration of alleged organizational conflicts of interest (OCIs), technical evaluation, and the best-value tradeoff decision. We deny the protest. BACKGROUND On February 28, 2023, the agency issued the TORFQ pursuant to Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) subpart 8.4 to vendors holding Expedited Professional and Engineering Support Services (EXPRESS) blanket purchase agreements (BPA).[1] See TORFQ.[2] The TORFQ sought a contractor to provide technical and engineering support services for the Army’s Program Executive Office for Intelligence, Electronic Warfare, and Sensors (PEO IEW&S), Project Management Office, Aircraft Survivability Equipment (PMO ASE). Id. at 1-2. According to the TORFQ, the PMO ASE mission objective is to develop and field “world class aircraft survivability systems that maximize the survivability of Army aircraft against a continually evolving threat without degrading combat mission effectiveness.” AR, Tab 5, TORFQ Performance Work Statement (PWS) at 1. The contractor would be responsible for a range of systems engineering and technical assistance (SETA) support services that are considered “mission essential services.” Id. The TORFQ noted that SAIC is the incumbent contractor. TORFQ at 2. The TORFQ contemplated the issuance of a single hybrid[3] task order to be performed over 66 months, including a base year period, five option years, and an optional 6‑month extension. Id. at 2, 9. The TORFQ stated that award would be made on a best-value tradeoff basis considering two factors: technical and price. Id. at 12.