United Defense, LLC (W911S025RA001)

B-423577 Aug 13, 2025 Jump To VIEW DECISION DOWNLOADS RELATED PAGES GAO CONTACTS Highlights United Defense, LLC, of Hampton, Virginia, challenges the terms of request for proposals (RFP) No. W911S025RA001, issued by the Department of the Army for intelligence support services for the Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) deputy chief of staff for intelligence. The protester alleges that the agency improperly failed to amend the solicitation after its requirements changed. 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: United Defense, LLC File: B-423577 Date: August 13, 2025 Olivia C. Bellini, Esq., Christopher M. O'Brien, Esq., Shomari B. Wade, Esq, and Michael J. Gardner, Esq., Greenberg Traurig, LLP, for the protester. Carter R. Cassidy, Esq., Bruce A. Nessler, Esq., and Robert B. Neill, Esq., Department of the Army, for the agency. Christine Martin, Esq., and Tania Calhoun, Esq., Office of the General Counsel, GAO, participated in the preparation of the decision. DIGEST Protest that the agency improperly failed to amend the solicitation following an alleged change to its requirements is denied where the record shows that the agency's requirements have not changed. DECISION United Defense, LLC, of Hampton, Virginia, challenges the terms of request for proposals (RFP) No. W911S025RA001, issued by the Department of the Army for intelligence support services for the Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) deputy chief of staff for intelligence. The protester alleges that the agency improperly failed to amend the solicitation after its requirements changed. We deny the protest. BACKGROUND The RFP was issued on January 3, 2025, as a total small business set-aside pursuant to Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) part 15 to obtain intelligence support services to assist the TRADOC deputy chief of staff for intelligence at Fort Eustis in Newport News, Virginia. Agency Report (AR), Tab 16, Conformed RFP at 1, 80; AR, Tab 9, Performance Work Statement (PWS) at ¶ 1.3. It is TRADOC's mission to understand, visualize, describe, and assess the operational environment (OE) to reduce risk and prevent surprise. PWS at ¶ 1.2.1. The operational environment “is the aggregate of the conditions, circumstances, and influences that affect” the capabilities and decisions of the commander, and encompasses air, land, maritime, space, and cyberspace domains, and other factors. Id. at ¶ 1.2. The contractor is to assist TRADOC with its mission by performing a wide variety of intelligence support services and tasks. Many of these tasks are to be performed at TRADOC headquarters (HQ) at Fort Eustis.[1] Id. at ¶ 5.2. The RFP contemplated the award of a hybrid fixed-price, cost, and time-and-materials contract. Conformed RFP at ¶ M.1.2. Award would be made to the offeror providing the best value to the government considering price and two non-price factors: technical approach and past performance. Id. at ¶ M.2.3. As relevant here, the technical approach factor required in part that offerors provide a management and staffing approach that demonstrated an understanding of the personnel requirements and an ability to hire, train, and retain an adequate number of personnel with the experience, qualifications, and clearances necessary to perform. Id. at ¶ M.3.2.3.1. Additionally, offerors were required to compensate staff in accordance with wage requirements as stated in the RFP pursuant to the service contract act (SCA) and applicable Department of Labor wage determinations for Virginia. AR, Tab 13, RFP, attach. 5, Wage Determination at 2. Technical proposals would receive a technical rating and a risk rating for a combined technical/risk rating. Conformed RFP at ¶ M.3.2.4. Price would be evaluated for reasonableness and balance. Id. at ¶ M.3.4.1. The protester submitted a timely proposal on February 25. Memorandum of Law (MOL) at 1. To date, a contract award has not yet been made. During the course of the procurement, on April 30, the secretary of Defense issued a memorandum to senior pentagon leadership providing broad policy guidance regarding certain transitions and changes within the Army. On May 1, the secretary of the Army and the chief of staff of the Army jointly issued a letter to Army leaders reflecting the same policy goals. These documents stated in part that the Army would consolidate the Army Futures Command (AFC) and TRADOC into one HQ. Id.; AR, Tab 18, Memorandum From Secretary of Defense – Army Transformation and Acquisition Reform at 3; AR, Tab 19, Letter From Secretary of the Army to Army Leaders – Army Transformation Initiative at 1. Neither the memorandum nor the letter state where the new HQ will be, and nor do they provide details or a timeline for the consolidation. Id. Additionally, neither document was issued publicly.