cFocus Software, Inc. (47QFDA23Q0052)

B-422970,B-422970.2 Dec 04, 2024 Jump To VIEW DECISION DOWNLOADS RELATED PAGES GAO CONTACTS Highlights cFocus Software, Inc., of Largo, Maryland, protests the issuance of a task order contract to KeyLogic Systems, LLC, of Morgantown, West Virginia, under request for quotations (RFQ) No. 47QFDA23Q0052, issued by the General Services Administration (GSA) for operation and maintenance of the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) budget formulation system (BFS). cFocus argues that the agency unreasonably evaluated its quotation. We deny the protest. View Decision Decision Matter of: cFocus Software, Inc. File: B-422970; B-422970.2 Date: December 4, 2024 John R. Tolle, Esq., and H. Todd Whay, Esq., Baker, Cronogue, Tolle & Werfel, LLP, for the protester. John J. O’Brien, Esq., Cordatis Law LLP, for KeyLogic Systems, LLC, the intervenor. Katherine Vernet, Esq., General Services Administration, for the agency. Todd C. Culliton, Esq., and Tania Calhoun, Esq., Office of the General Counsel, GAO, participated in the preparation of the decision. DIGEST Protest that the agency unreasonably evaluated the protester’s corporate experience is denied where the record shows that the evaluation is consistent with the terms of the solicitation. DECISION cFocus Software, Inc., of Largo, Maryland, protests the issuance of a task order contract to KeyLogic Systems, LLC, of Morgantown, West Virginia, under request for quotations (RFQ) No. 47QFDA23Q0052, issued by the General Services Administration (GSA) for operation and maintenance of the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) budget formulation system (BFS).[1] cFocus argues that the agency unreasonably evaluated its quotation. We deny the protest. BACKGROUND On December 20, 2023, GSA issued the RFQ to procure operation and maintenance services for the EPA’s BFS. Agency Report (AR), exh. B, RFQ at 11‑12.[2] The BFS is used as a centralized information technology (IT) tool critical to the agency’s budget planning, formulation, and execution process. Id. The system links budget and performance data, and agency personnel use the data generated to submit budgeting information to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and to Congress. Id. The agency issued the RFQ to all vendors holding federal supply schedule contracts under special item number 54151S, IT Professional Services, and conducted the acquisition in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation subpart 8.4. RFQ at 2. The RFQ contemplated the issuance of a hybrid fixed-price, time-and-material, and labor-hour task order to be performed over a 1-year base period and four 1-year option periods. Id. at 3, 30. Award would be made on a best-value tradeoff basis considering technical and price factors; when combined, the technical factors were more important than price. Id. at 64. The RFQ included three technical factors: federal agency level budget formulation and execution experience; corporate experience; and key personnel. Id. at 65. The selected contractor would be expected to operate, enhance, and maintain the EPA’s BFS. RFQ at 12-13. The RFQ set forth the following tasks: task one, project management; task two, custom computer programming services; task three, BFS application development and customization; task four, intermittent IT support; task five, optional cloud hosting; and task six, optional cloud platform migration. Id. at 16-25. As relevant here, task two, custom computer programming services, requires the selected contractor to maintain the existing BFS. RFQ at 20. This task contained two subtasks: subtask 1, BFS operation and maintenance, and subtask 2, maintenance and implementation of a disaster recovery plan. Id. 21-23. Under subtask 1, the selected contractor would be required to correct deficiencies, upgrade and optimize functionality, and respond to budget directives from OMB, Congress, and EPA executives. Id. at 21. Task three, BFS application development and customization, requires the selected contractor to enhance the BFS through measures like better interfacing with other EPA systems, developing additional data manipulation capabilities, and creating custom reporting tools. RFQ at 23. The selected contractor must test and deliver the enhancements with minimal to no defects. Id. When demonstrating corporate experience, the RFQ instructed vendors to identify three contracts that are collectively similar in scope to the instant acquisition. RFQ at 62. The RFQ advised that the agency would evaluate corporate experience on a “relevant” or “not relevant” basis. Id. at 67.