Southern Hog Control, LLC (36C78624Q50039)

B-422307 Apr 17, 2024 Jump To VIEW DECISION DOWNLOADS RELATED PAGES GAO CONTACTS Highlights Southern Hog Control, LLC, of Seale, Alabama, protests the award of a contract to 3 Squared Technology Group, of Pike Road, Alabama, under request for quotations (RFQ) No. 36C78624Q50039, issued by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for wildlife management services at Fort Mitchell National Cemetery in Fort Mitchell, Alabama. The protester asserts that the agency unreasonably evaluated the awardee's quotation under the technical capability and past performance factors. We deny the protest. View Decision Decision Matter of: Southern Hog Control, LLC File: B-422307 Date: April 17, 2024 Christopher Monhof for the protester. Jason M. Fragoso, Esq., Department of Veterans Affairs, for the agency. Christine Milne, Esq., and Tania Calhoun, Esq., Office of the General Counsel, GAO, participated in the preparation of the decision. DIGEST Protest that the agency unreasonably evaluated the awardee’s quotation is denied where the record shows that the agency evaluated the awardee’s quotation in accordance with the solicitation terms. DECISION Southern Hog Control, LLC, of Seale, Alabama, protests the award of a contract to 3 Squared Technology Group, of Pike Road, Alabama, under request for quotations (RFQ) No. 36C78624Q50039, issued by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for wildlife management services at Fort Mitchell National Cemetery in Fort Mitchell, Alabama. The protester asserts that the agency unreasonably evaluated the awardee’s quotation under the technical capability and past performance factors. We deny the protest. BACKGROUND The VA issued the RFQ on December 6, 2023, pursuant to Federal Acquisition Regulation part 13, for wildlife management services at the Fort Mitchell National Cemetery. Agency Report (AR), Tab 4, RFQ, Statement of Work (SOW) at 6. The RFQ primarily seeks services to address sanitation issues and damage caused by feral hogs, and the contractor is required to trap, reduce, and control the feral hog population using methods described in the RFQ. Id. at 6-7. Vendors were to propose a site manager who would ensure this work was performed in accordance with the terms of the solicitation as well as manage and supervise employees. Id. The site manager was required to have at least five years of experience performing all tasks in the scope of work and supervising employees performing those tasks. Id. at 7. The contract was to be performed over a 1-year base period and four 1-year option periods. RFQ at 4-5. Award would be made to the vendor offering the best value to the government, considering technical capability, past performance, and price. Id. at 45-46. The technical capability factor included two subfactors: (1) experience and training of personnel and technical services, and (2) understanding of work requirement and performance work plan. Id. at 46. For the first subfactor, quotations were to be evaluated based on qualification materials such as resumes and references. Id. For the second subfactor, quotations were to be evaluated based on a vendor’s written plan for how work was to be performed. Id. The technical capability factor was evaluated using a rating scheme of outstanding, good, acceptable, or unacceptable. AR, Tab 8.2, 3 Squared Technical Capability Evaluation at 1. The past performance factor required vendors to submit at least three past performance references on projects performed within the last three years that were similar in size, scope, and pricing. RFQ at 46. Past performance was to be evaluated considering such things as a vendor’s record of conforming to contract requirements and reputation for good workmanship. Id. This factor was evaluated using a rating scheme of low risk, medium risk, unknown risk, or high risk. AR, Tab 8.1, 3 Squared Past Performance Evaluation at 1. Price was evaluated for reasonableness. RFQ at 46. The agency received four quotations, including those of 3 Squared and Southern Hog, the incumbent contractor. Their quotations were evaluated as follows:   Technical Capability Past Performance Price 3 Squared Outstanding Low Risk $243,204 Southern Hog Good Low Risk $538,440   AR, Tab 8, Award Decision at 2; AR, Tab 8.1, 3 Squared Past Performance Evaluation at 1; AR, Tab 8.2, 3 Squared Technical Capability Evaluation at 1; AR, Tab 8.3, Southern Hog Past Performance Evaluation at 1; AR, Tab 8.4, Southern Hog Technical Capability Evaluation at 1. In evaluating 3 Squared’s quotation under the technical capability factor, the agency assigned three strengths: one for the awardee’s understanding of feral hog control; another for its use of current tracking and euthanasia methods; and the third for its site manager’s extensive experience with trapping feral wildlife. AR, Tab 8.2, 3 Squared Technical Evaluation at 2.