New Generation Solution, LLC (RFP-832369156)

B-422559.2,B-422559.3 Oct 23, 2024 Jump To VIEW DECISION DOWNLOADS RELATED PAGES GAO CONTACTS Highlights New Generation Solution, LLC (NGS), a small business of McLean, Virginia, protests the issuance of a task order to DSSG, LLC, a small business of Herndon, Virginia, under request for proposals (RFP) No. 832369156, issued by the Department of Defense, Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA), for endpoint modernization services. NGS challenges the agency's technical evaluation and 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: New Generation Solution, LLC File: B-422559.2; B-422559.3 Date: October 23, 2024 Taylor R. Holt, Esq., Emily Chancey, Esq., and W. Brad English, Esq., Maynard Nexsen, PC, for the protester. Gregory R. Hallmark, Esq., Tanner N. Slaughter, Esq., and David S. Black, Esq., Holland & Knight LLP, for DSSG LLC, the intervenor. Colleen A. Eagan, Esq., Defense Information Systems Agency, for the agency. Hannah G. Barnes, Esq., and Christina Sklarew, Esq., Office of the General Counsel, GAO, participated in the preparation of the decision. DIGEST 1. Protest challenging the agency’s technical evaluation is denied where the record shows that the agency’s evaluation was reasonable and consistent with the solicitation’s evaluation criteria. 2. Protest alleging that the agency engaged in disparate treatment by identifying a strength in the awardee’s proposal and not in the protester’s proposal is denied where the difference in strengths was based on differences in the proposals. 3. Protest challenging an agency’s best-value tradeoff determination is denied where the record reflects that the agency’s source selection rationale was consistent with the stated evaluation criteria. DECISION New Generation Solution, LLC (NGS), a small business of McLean, Virginia, protests the issuance of a task order to DSSG, LLC, a small business of Herndon, Virginia, under request for proposals (RFP) No. 832369156, issued by the Department of Defense, Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA), for endpoint modernization services. NGS challenges the agency’s technical evaluation and source selection decision. We deny the protest. BACKGROUND The agency issued the RFP on May 23, 2023, pursuant to the procedures of Federal Acquisition Regulation subpart 16.5, under the General Services Administration’s (GSA) 8(a) Streamlined Technology Acquisition Resource for Services (STARS) III contract, seeking endpoint modernization services to support DISA’s Joint Service Provider (JSP) requirement.[1] Agency Report (AR), Tab 1, RFP at 1; Contracting Officer’s Statement and Memorandum of Law (COS/MOL) at 4. The RFP contemplated the issuance of a fixed-price task order with a 1-year base period and four 1-year option periods. RFP at 2. The RFP announced that award would be made on a best-value tradeoff basis, considering price and five technical/management approach subfactors: (1) program and project management support, (2) workstation environment discovery and endpoint modernization installation, (3) asset management and logistics coordination, (4) hardware procurement, and (5) key positions. RFP at 4-5. The solicitation advised that all technical/management approach subfactors were “of equal importance” and that the technical/management approach factor was “more important” than the price factor. Id. at 5-6. The RFP provided for the assessment of significant strengths, strengths, weaknesses, significant weaknesses, deficiencies, and risk in the offerors’ proposals during the best-value tradeoff. AR, Tab 1g, Evaluation Tables at 1. Under the program and project management technical subfactor, the RFP directed offerors to “describe their approach to implementing the overall endpoint modernization program.” RFP at 5. More specifically, with respect to subtasks in PWS section 6.1 corresponding with the program management subfactor, the solicitation directed offerors to “describe their ability to demonstrate a comprehensive management approach that ensures fully trained, top-quality personnel are provided in accordance with the requirements outlined in the PWS, how the contractor will track and manage all resources to support the efforts outlined in the PWS, and describe the appropriate mix of labor categories, labor hours, and other direct costs.” Id. This technical subfactor would receive a rating of either outstanding, good, acceptable, marginal, or unacceptable.[2] Id. at 4; see AR, Tab 1g, Evaluation Tables at 1. Under the price factor, the RFP provided for proposals to be evaluated for price reasonableness and completeness, with price completeness meaning that “all solicitation requirements must be priced, figures correctly calculated, and prices presented in a clear and useful format.” Id.