Perimeter Security Partners, LLC (W912DY-24-R-0008)

B-422666.2 Aug 08, 2025 Jump To VIEW DECISION DOWNLOADS RELATED PAGES GAO CONTACTS Highlights Perimeter Security Partners, LLC (PSP), a small business of Brentwood, Tennessee, requests that our Office recommend that it be reimbursed for the costs of filing and pursuing its protest challenging the issuance of a task order to Low Voltage Wiring, Ltd. (LVW), a small business of Colorado Springs, Colorado, under request for quotations (RFQ) No. W912DY-24-R-0008, issued by the Department of the Army, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps), for preventative and corrective maintenance services for access control points at 19 Army installations in the northeast region of the United States. PSP argues that it should be reimbursed its protest costs because the agency unduly delayed taking corrective action in response to its clearly meritorious protest. We grant the request. 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: Perimeter Security Partners, LLC‑‑Costs File: B-422666.2 Date: August 8, 2025 Lee Dougherty, Esq., Effectus, PLLC, for the requester. Allen Scott Black, Esq., Department of the Army, for the agency. Sarah T. Zaffina, Esq., and Jennifer D. Westfall‑McGrail, Esq., Office of the General Counsel, GAO, participated in the preparation of the decision. DIGEST Request that GAO recommend reimbursement of protest costs is granted where the agency unduly delayed taking corrective action in response to clearly meritorious protest arguments and where the other protest grounds were intertwined with the clearly meritorious issues. DECISION Perimeter Security Partners, LLC (PSP), a small business of Brentwood, Tennessee, requests that our Office recommend that it be reimbursed for the costs of filing and pursuing its protest challenging the issuance of a task order to Low Voltage Wiring, Ltd. (LVW), a small business of Colorado Springs, Colorado, under request for quotations (RFQ) No. W912DY‑24‑R‑0008, issued by the Department of the Army, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps), for preventative and corrective maintenance services for access control points at 19 Army installations in the northeast region of the United States. PSP argues that it should be reimbursed its protest costs because the agency unduly delayed taking corrective action in response to its clearly meritorious protest. We grant the request. BACKGROUND On December 14, 2023, the Corps requested quotations from General Services Administration schedule contract holders in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation subpart 8.4.[1] Agency Report (AR), Tab 3, RFQ at 1, 3; Contracting Officer’s Statement (COS) at 4. The RFQ was set aside for small businesses and contemplated the issuance of a fixed‑price task order for a 12‑month base period with up to four 12‑month options. RFQ at 1; AR, Tab 4, RFQ amend. 1 at 5. The RFQ advised that the order would be issued to the vendor representing the best value to the government considering the following three evaluation factors, in descending order of importance: technical approach and experience (the technical factor); past performance; and price. RFQ amend. 1 at 11‑12. The RFQ provided that the best‑value quotation would be determined by comparing non‑price features and price. Id. at 11. It was more important to the Corps to acquire services with superior non-price features than to award a contract to the lowest-priced vendor. Id. Three vendors, including PSP and LVW, the incumbent contractor, timely submitted quotations. COS at 5. The table below summarizes the agency’s evaluation of the three quotations: VENDOR PSP LVW VENDOR 3 Technical Good Good Good Past Performance Satisfactory Confidence Satisfactory Confidence Satisfactory Confidence Price $44,334,304 $45,752,797 $47,765,732   AR, Tab 18, Source Selection Decision (SSD) at 2. The evaluators determined that while PSP’s price was acceptable, it presented a potential price risk to the government because it was $528,107 below the competitive pricing range.[2] Id. The source selection authority (SSA), who was the contracting officer, concluded that LVW’s quotation represented the best value because LVW, as the incumbent, had “standing relationships and historical knowledge in this region” and received very positive feedback from its customers for its performance. Id. The SSA also concluded that LVW’s quotation was worth the $1.4 million premium over PSP “to mitigate PSP’s price risk to the Government.” Id. The agency notified PSP of its decision to select LVW for the order on May 31, 2024. COS at 5. The agency provided a brief explanation of the basis for award to PSP and responded to its questions.