Centurion Analytics, LLC (36C78625B0012)

B-423755,B-423755.2,B-423779,B-423779.2 Dec 12, 2025 Jump To FULL REPORT VIEW DECISION RELATED PAGES GAO CONTACTS Highlights Centurion Analytics, LLC, of Fredericksburg, Virginia, protests the award of a contract to Veterans Choice Solutions, LLC, of Anthem, Arizona, under invitation for bids (IFB) No. 36C78625B0012, issued by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for headstone maintenance at the Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery and Woodland Cemetery Soldier's Lot (Ohio Western). Centurion also protests the award of a contract to Veterans Choice under request for quotations (RFQ) No. 36C78625Q50154, issued by the VA for grounds maintenance at the Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery. Centurion protests that Veterans Choice has a conflict of interest that should have resulted in the rejection of its bid and quotation. We deny the protests. 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: Centurion Analytics, LLC File: B-423755; B-423755.2; B-423779; B-423779.2 Date: December 12, 2025 Jonathan D. Shaffer, Esq., and John M. Tanner, Esq., Haynes and Boone, LLP, for the protester. Michelle F. Kantor, Esq., and Bryan T. Kostura, Esq., McDonald Hopkins LLC, for Veterans Choice Solutions, LLC, the intervenor. Elizabeth Hall, Esq., and Krishon Gill-Edmond, Esq., Department of Veterans Affairs, for the agency. Mary G. Curcio, Esq., and John Sorrenti, Esq., Office of the General Counsel, GAO, participated in the preparation of the decision. DIGEST Protest that awardee should have been eliminated from the competition based on a conflict of interest is denied where the agency investigated the allegation and reasonably concluded that the awardee did not have access to non-public competitively useful information. DECISION Centurion Analytics, LLC, of Fredericksburg, Virginia, protests the award of a contract to Veterans Choice Solutions, LLC, of Anthem, Arizona, under invitation for bids (IFB) No. 36C78625B0012, issued by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for headstone maintenance at the Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery and Woodland Cemetery Soldier's Lot (Ohio Western). Centurion also protests the award of a contract to Veterans Choice under request for quotations (RFQ) No. 36C78625Q50154, issued by the VA for grounds maintenance at the Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery.[1] Centurion protests that Veterans Choice has a conflict of interest that should have resulted in the rejection of its bid and quotation. We deny the protests. BACKGROUND The VA National Cemetery Administration (NCA) is responsible for headstone and grounds maintenance at the agency's national cemeteries. The NCA's field structure is organized into five districts: Pacific, Continental, Midwest, North Atlantic, and Southeastern, with a separate chain of command for each district and each cemetery within the district. Agency Report (AR), Tab 20, Decl. of Mr. S at 1. The Ohio Western cemetery is in the Midwest district. AR, Tab 26, Declaration of Ohio Western Cemetery Director at 1. On May 20, 2025, the agency issued the RFQ for grounds maintenance services at the Ohio Western as a service-disabled veteran-owned (SDVOSB) small business set-aside. AR, Tab 1.1, RFQ (B-423779) at 1. The RFQ provided that the agency would evaluate the lowest-priced quotation for technical acceptability.[2] Id. at 25. If the lowest-priced quotation was technically acceptable and the offeror was responsible, the contract would be awarded to that vendor. Id. The agency received three quotations in response to the RFQ. Contracting Officer's Statement (COS) at 3. Veterans Choice submitted the lowest-priced, technically acceptable quotation. The contracting officer found that Veterans Choice was responsible and awarded it the contract. On May 21, the agency issued the IFB for headstone maintenance at Ohio Western as an SDVOSB set-aside. AR, Tab 4, IFB (B-423755) at 1. The IFB provided for award to the responsible bidder that submitted the lowest-priced responsive bid. Id. at 31. The public bid opening took place on June 23, via phone conference. The agency received a bid from Centurion for a total price of $6,369,954.00, and a bid from Veterans Choice for a total price of $3,992,625.00.[3] COS at 1. The agency awarded the contract to Veterans Choice after determining that it was a responsible bidder. After learning of each of the awards to Veterans Choice, Centurion timely filed both protests with our Office. DISCUSSION Centurion argues that Veterans Choice had a conflict of interest, which should have resulted in the rejection of its bid and quotation in each of the respective procurements. Specifically, the protester contends that Veterans Choice is owned by a former VA official (Mr.