Parsons Government Services, Inc. (47QFCA24R0006)

B-422849 Nov 21, 2024 Jump To VIEW DECISION DOWNLOADS RELATED PAGES GAO CONTACTS Highlights Parsons Government Services Inc., of Centreville, Virginia, protests the issuance of a task order to ManTech Advanced Systems International, Inc., of Herndon, Virginia, under task order request (TOR) No. 47QFCA24R0006, issued by the General Services Administration (GSA) for intelligence and cyber operations solutions and services for multiple projects in support of the Department of Defense's (DOD) National Security Innovation Network (NSIN) and NSIN's mission partner network. The protester contends that the agency improperly evaluated proposals, performed an unreasonable best-value tradeoff, and failed to properly consider whether ManTech had an unfair competitive advantage due to the hiring of a former government official. 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: Parsons Government Services Inc. File: B-422849 Date: November 21, 2024 Jeffery M. Chiow, Esq., Melissa P. Prusock, Esq., Eleanor M. Ross, Esq., and Cassidy Kim, Esq., Greenberg Traurig, LLP, for the protester. Paul F. Khoury, Esq., George E. Petel, Esq., Lisa M. Rechden, Esq., and Vaibhavi Patria, Esq., Wiley Rein LLP, for ManTech Advanced Systems International, Inc., the intervenor. Kelli Cochran-Seabrook, Esq., and Nathan C. Bangsil, Esq., U.S. General Services Administration, for the agency. Nathaniel S. Canfield, Esq., and Evan D. Wesser, Esq., Office of the General Counsel, GAO, participated in the preparation of the decision. DIGEST 1. Protest challenging evaluation of proposals is denied where the record demonstrates that the evaluation was reasonable, consistent with the solicitation, and did not result from unequal treatment of proposals. 2. Protest alleging that awardee gained an unfair competitive advantage based on employment of a former government official is denied where the record shows that the individual did not have access to non‑public, competitively useful information and was not involved in the drafting of the solicitation or the awardee’s proposal. DECISION Parsons Government Services Inc., of Centreville, Virginia, protests the issuance of a task order to ManTech Advanced Systems International, Inc., of Herndon, Virginia, under task order request (TOR) No. 47QFCA24R0006, issued by the General Services Administration (GSA) for intelligence and cyber operations solutions and services for multiple projects in support of the Department of Defense’s (DOD) National Security Innovation Network (NSIN) and NSIN’s mission partner network. The protester contends that the agency improperly evaluated proposals, performed an unreasonable best‑value tradeoff, and failed to properly consider whether ManTech had an unfair competitive advantage due to the hiring of a former government official. We deny the protest. BACKGROUND NSIN is a program office within DOD’s Defense Innovation Unit that aims to build communities of innovators to generate new solutions to national security problems. Contracting Officer’s Statement (COS) at 1. The procurement at issue, referred to as the Interagency Intelligence and Cyber Operations Network (ICON) procurement, is sponsored by NSIN and will provide shared and integrated cyber resources, information, and capabilities services for intelligence and cyber operations mission partners. Id. The ICON task order to be issued will support the United States Cyber Command, Cyber Mission Forces, Geographic and Functional Combatant Commands, Joint Task Forces, Service Cyberspace Components (i.e., Marine Corps Forces Cyberspace Command and the United States Fleet Cyber Command), Military Services, DOD component services and agencies, and interagency intelligence partners. Id. at 1‑2. Pursuant to Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) subpart 16.5, the agency issued the TOR via the GSA eBuy website on February 27, 2024, to vendors holding GSA Alliant 2 governmentwide acquisition contracts (GWAC). Id. at 2; Agency Report (AR), Tab 3.a, Amended TOR at 1, 97, 113.[1] The TOR, which the agency amended once, contemplated issuance of a single task order containing cost‑plus‑award‑fee and cost‑reimbursement line items, with a 1‑year base period, four 1‑year options, and a 6‑month option to extend. COS at 4; Amended TOR at 3‑7, 33, 76, 113. The agency would make its source selection decision on a best‑value tradeoff basis, considering four technical evaluation factors--technical and management approach; ICON project scenario; key personnel and project staffing; and corporate experience--and cost/price. Amended TOR at 113, 115. The TOR listed the four technical evaluation factors in descending order of importance and stated that, when combined, they were significantly more important than cost/price. Id. at 115.