Cloud Alliance, Inc. (1305M224Q0046)

B-422884 Dec 03, 2024 Jump To VIEW DECISION DOWNLOADS RELATED PAGES GAO CONTACTS Highlights Cloud Alliance, Inc., an 8(a) small business of Tysons Corner, Virginia, protests the establishment of a blanket purchase agreement (BPA) with Cherokee Nation Systems Solutions, LLC (CNSS), an 8(a) small business of Tulsa, Oklahoma, under request for quotations (RFQ) No. 1305M224Q0046, issued by the Department of Commerce, National Oceanica and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) for information technology (IT) support services. The protester challenges various aspects of the agency's evaluation of the vendors' quotations under the nonprice factors, as well as the source selection decision. We deny the protest. View Decision Decision Matter of: Cloud Alliance, Inc. File: B-422884 Date: December 3, 2024 Shane J. McCall, Esq., Nicole D. Pottroff, Esq., John L. Holtz, Esq., Gregory P. Weber, Esq., Stephanie L. Ellis, Esq., Koprince, McCall & Pottroff LLC, for the protester. Antonio R. Franco, Esq., Katherine B. Burrows, Esq., Eric A. Valle, Esq., and Kelly A. Kirchgasser, Piliero Mazza, PLLC, for Cherokee Nation Systems Solutions, LLC, the intervenor. Celia Crabbe, Esq., and Laetitia Hua, Esq., Department of Commerce, for the agency. Michelle Litteken, Esq., and Christina Sklarew, Esq., Office of the General Counsel, GAO, participated in the preparation of the decision. DIGEST 1. Protester’s various challenges to the agency’s evaluation of quotations under nonprice factors are denied where the record reasonably supports the agency’s evaluation judgments and conclusions. 2. Protest challenging the agency’s source selection decision is denied where the benefits documented by the agency reasonably justified the awardee’s higher price and where the underlying evaluation was reasonable. DECISION Cloud Alliance, Inc., an 8(a) small business of Tysons Corner, Virginia, protests the establishment of a blanket purchase agreement (BPA) with Cherokee Nation Systems Solutions, LLC (CNSS), an 8(a) small business of Tulsa, Oklahoma, under request for quotations (RFQ) No. 1305M224Q0046, issued by the Department of Commerce, National Oceanica and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) for information technology (IT) support services.[1] The protester challenges various aspects of the agency’s evaluation of the vendors’ quotations under the nonprice factors, as well as the source selection decision. We deny the protest. BACKGROUND NOAA’s National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS) conducts and supports research, monitoring, assessments, and technical assistance to meet the agency’s coastal stewardship and management responsibilities. Agency Report (AR), Tab 1a, Performance Work Statement (PWS) at 1. The RFQ sought a contractor to provide comprehensive IT support services to the NCCOS, including integration and operation of IT infrastructure, IT security, database administration, and application and website development. Id. at 2. GSA issued the RFQ as a set aside for 8(a) small businesses[2] on April 10, 2024, under the General Services Administration’s Federal Supply Schedule, using FAR subpart 8.4 procedures.[3] AR, Tab 1, RFQ at 1; Contracting Officer’s Statement (COS) at 1. The RFQ contemplated the establishment of a BPA with a 1-year base period and four 1‑year option periods. RFQ at 1-2. The RFQ provided that the agency would establish a BPA with the vendor whose quotation was most advantageous to the agency, price and other factors considered. RFQ amend. 1 at 7. The RFQ established that the agency would evaluate quotations using the following factors, listed in descending order of importance: corporate experience, technical approach, management approach, and price. Id. at 8-9. The RFQ stated that the agency would not select a quotation with a significantly higher price to achieve a slightly superior technical capability, and price would become more important as quotations approached equality under the nonprice factors. Id. at 7-8. For the corporate experience factor, the RFQ provided that NOAA would evaluate the vendor’s background, experience, and qualifications, particularly experience with optimization of services through the use of shared and cloud service delivery. RFQ amend. 1 at 8. The RFQ stated that the evaluation under the technical approach factor would assess the agency’s confidence in the vendor’s understanding of and ability to perform PWS section 3, which described the RFQ’s scope of services. Id. Lastly, for the management approach factor, the RFQ directed vendors to address their ability to recruit and retain a qualified workforce, including a description of the corporate policy for benefits and continuing education. Id. at 6. On May 1, 2024, the agency received four timely quotations, including quotations from Cloud Alliance and CNSS. COS at 5.