ITSC Secure Solutions,LLC (FA714624R0002)

B-422731,B-422731.3 Oct 04, 2024 Jump To VIEW DECISION DOWNLOADS RELATED PAGES GAO CONTACTS Highlights ITSC Secure Solutions JV, LLC, (ITSC) a small business of Owens Crossroads, Alabama, protests the issuance of a task order to Gemini Industries, Inc., a small business of Fairfax, Virginia, pursuant to fair opportunity proposal request (FOPR) No. FA714624R0002 issued under General Services Administration's (GSA) One Acquisition for Integrated Services (OASIS) multiple award indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract by the United States Air Force for a variety of mission support services. The protester alleges that the agency erred in its evaluation of proposals and best-value tradeoff in several respects. 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: ITSC Secure Solutions,LLC File: B-422731; B-422731.3 Date: October 4, 2024 Robert J. Wagman Jr., Esq., Caroline S. Sinegar, Esq., Sophia E. Evans, Esq., Bracewell LLP, for the protester. Colonel Patricia S. Wiegman-Lenz, Colonel Nina R. Padalino, Josephine R. Farinelli, Esq., Major Craig M. Brunson, Ryan Lambrecht, Esq., and Kevin Stiens, Esq., Department of the Air Force, for the agency. Michael Willems, Esq., and Evan D. Wesser, Esq., Office of the General Counsel, GAO, participated in the preparation of the decision. DIGEST 1. Protest challenging the agency’s price realism evaluation is denied where the agency’s use of a standard deviation methodology was reasonable and consistent with the terms of the solicitation. 2. Protest alleging that agency misevaluated technical proposals and made an unreasonable source selection decision is denied where the record shows that the agency’s evaluation was reasonable and consistent with the terms of the solicitation. DECISION ITSC Secure Solutions JV, LLC, (ITSC) a small business of Owens Crossroads, Alabama, protests the issuance of a task order to Gemini Industries, Inc., a small business of Fairfax, Virginia, pursuant to fair opportunity proposal request (FOPR) No. FA714624R0002 issued under General Services Administration’s (GSA) One Acquisition for Integrated Services (OASIS) multiple award indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract by the United States Air Force for a variety of mission support services. The protester alleges that the agency erred in its evaluation of proposals and best-value tradeoff in several respects. We deny the protest. BACKGROUND The Air Force published the FOPR on November 29, 2023, and it contemplated the issuance of a single task order primarily on a labor-hour basis with fixed-price labor rates, with an 8-month base period and four 1-year option periods. Agency Report (AR), Tab 3, FOPR at 1.[1] The FOPR contemplated award based on a best-value tradeoff between two factors: technical and price. Id. at 6. The technical factor comprised three subfactors: (1) experience, organizational structure, and teaming arrangement; (2) management approach and staffing plan; and (3) transition plan. Id. The solicitation further provided that the technical factor was more important than the price factor. Id. Additionally, the solicitation explained that the first and second technical subfactors were equally weighted, but that the transition plan subfactor would be evaluated on an acceptable/unacceptable basis and would not be considered in the tradeoff. Id. Relevant to this protest, the solicitation provided that the agency would compute each offeror’s evaluated price on the basis of an agency-established staffing level for various positions multiplied by the labor rates furnished by the offerors in their price proposals. Id. at 9. The solicitation also provided that price would be evaluated for reasonableness, realism, and completeness. Id. The solicitation explained the price realism evaluation as follows: The Government evaluation of price realism will consider the extent to which proposed labor rates indicate a clear understanding of FOPR requirements and determine whether they reflect a sound approach to satisfying those requirements and whether the proposed escalation factors are realistic. For each labor category, the Government will compare the proposed rates to established “benchmark” rates (comprised of an average of proposed rates and industry indexes) and determine if the proposed rates are within -2 Standard Deviations of the benchmark rates. Any rates below -2 Standard Deviations of the benchmark may[2] be determined unrealistic. FOPR at 9. The agency received six proposals, including from ITSC and Gemini. Contracting Officer’s Statement (COS) at 11. The agency conducted a preliminary evaluation, including an evaluation of price. Id. at 12.