FedWriters, Inc. (49100426R0002)

B-424376 Jun 23, 2026 Jump To VIEW DECISION DOWNLOADS RELATED PAGES GAO CONTACTS Highlights FedWriters, Inc., a small business of Fairfax, Virginia, protests the terms of request for proposals (RFP) No. 49100426R0002, issued by the National Science Foundation (NSF), for the establishment of a multiple-award blanket purchase agreement (BPA) for comprehensive communications support. The protester argues that the agency's justification for consolidating requirements does not demonstrate that the benefits of consolidation outweigh the advantages of alternative contracting approaches, as required by Revolutionary Federal Acquisition Regulation Overhaul (RFO) section 7.107-2. We dismiss the protest. View Decision   DOCUMENT FOR PUBLIC RELEASE The decision issued on the date below was subject to a GAO Protective Order. The entire decision has been approved for public release. Decision Matter of: FedWriters, Inc. File: B-424376 Date: June 23, 2026 Devon E. Hewitt, Esq., and Matthew L. Nicholson, Esq., Potomac Law Group, for the protester. John Cho, Esq., National Science Foundation, for the agency. Michelle Litteken, Esq., and April Y. Shields, Esq., Office of the General Counsel, GAO, participated in the preparation of the decision. DIGEST Protest that an agency, when issuing a solicitation for the establishment of a blanket purchase agreement (BPA), failed to meet the consolidation analysis requirements of Revolutionary Federal Acquisition Regulation Overhaul section 7.107-2 is dismissed because the plain language of the provision does not apply to BPAs. DECISION FedWriters, Inc., a small business of Fairfax, Virginia, protests the terms of request for proposals (RFP) No. 49100426R0002, issued by the National Science Foundation (NSF), for the establishment of a multiple-award blanket purchase agreement (BPA) for comprehensive communications support. The protester argues that the agency's justification for consolidating requirements does not demonstrate that the benefits of consolidation outweigh the advantages of alternative contracting approaches, as required by Revolutionary Federal Acquisition Regulation Overhaul (RFO) section 7.107-2. We dismiss the protest. BACKGROUND The NSF shares information about its activities, research results, programs, and policies with internal and external audiences. Contracting Officer's Statement (COS) at 1. Previously, the agency acquired communication support services under seven contract vehicles. Agency Report (AR), Tab 15, Consolidation Justification at 1. The services acquired under the existing contract vehicles include graphic design support; administration and program support; audio and video project support; and writing and editorial support. Id. The protester is the incumbent contractor performing under an order to provide writing and editorial support. Id. Prior to issuing the RFP, the NSF conducted market research to determine whether consolidation of its requirements for communication services under a single contract vehicle was necessary and justified, and to determine whether to set aside the procurement for small businesses. COS at 2. After posting a request for information (RFI) and reviewing the responses, the contracting officer consulted with the agency's Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization and determined that the NSF would solicit its requirements as a woman-owned small business (WOSB) set-aside. Id. at 3. Thereafter, on December 22, 2025, using the General Services Administration's (GSA) eBuy website, the agency issued solicitation No. 49100425R0014 as a WOSB set-aside, seeking proposals for the establishment of a multiple-award BPA for comprehensive communication support services. COS at 3. On January 23, 2026, FedWriters filed a protest with our Office, B-424222, challenging the NSF's decision to set aside the solicitation for WOSBs and its decision to consolidate the requirements. Subsequently, on January 29, the agency notified our Office that it was electing to take corrective action by canceling the solicitation and issuing a new solicitation, and based on the agency's proposed corrective action, we dismissed the protest as academic. FedWriters, Inc., B-424222, Jan. 30, 2026 (unpublished decision). As part of its voluntary corrective action, the NSF conducted new market research and determined there were “potentially [65] capable WOSBs that would be a probable fit for this procurement.” COS at 4. In addition, on January 30, the agency issued an RFI with a draft statement of work (SOW). Id.; see also AR, Tab 6a, Second RFI at 1. The agency reviewed the RFI responses and determined that at least 31 WOSBs demonstrated the capability and capacity to perform the requirements as prime contractors.