Chaedrol GAO Protest Log 20241004: ITegrity and CW Travel
ITegrity Inc. (B-422694, B-422694.2)
You should not care.
Category: Past performance evaluation
Date: September 26, 2024
URL: https://www.gao.gov/products/b-422694%2Cb-422694.2
ITegrity Inc. protested NOAA’s award of a BPA to AttainX, LLC, for FISMA assessment and authorization services. The protester alleged that NOAA unreasonably and unequally evaluated quotations, claiming that the agency's best-value tradeoff analysis was flawed. ITegrity argued that the agency failed to give appropriate weight to its past performance as the incumbent contractor.
Key Issues:
- Evaluation of past performance: ITegrity contended that NOAA unduly discounted its first past performance reference, which it argued should have warranted a high confidence rating. GAO noted that while ITegrity's performance as the incumbent was relevant, the agency's discretion in evaluating all references submitted—including those from subcontractors—was upheld. GAO reaffirmed that a protester's disagreement with the agency's evaluation does not, by itself, render the evaluation unreasonable.
- Relevance of references: The protester challenged the agency's assessment that its second and third past performance references were not relevant to the current solicitation. GAO found that the agency's evaluation was reasonable, asserting that the references lacked critical tasks outlined in the PWS, particularly penetration testing and compliance assessments.
Ultimately, the protest was denied, with GAO concluding NOAA acted within its discretion and adhered to the solicitation's evaluation criteria, demonstrating that the agency's analysis was consistent and reasonable based on the information available.
Digest
Protest that the agency unreasonably and unequally evaluated quotations and performed a flawed best-value tradeoff analysis is denied where the record shows the agency evaluated quotations in accordance with the solicitation’s terms and on an equal basis.
CW Government Travel, Inc. (B-422714)
You should not care.
Category: Price realism
Date: September 27, 2024
URL: https://www.gao.gov/products/b-422714
CW Government Travel, Inc. protested GSA’s award of a contract for temporary duty lodging to AdTrav Corporation under RFP #47QMCB24R0001. The protester contended that the agency failed to properly evaluate AdTrav’s proposed price, arguing that it was unrealistically low and did not adequately cover necessary operating and marketing costs.
The primary grounds for the protest focused on the agency's price evaluation process. CW argued that the agency should have conducted a price realism analysis, as they believed AdTrav's low price indicated a lack of understanding of the project requirements. GAO responded that the solicitation did not require a price realism evaluation, and thus, the agency was not obligated to assess whether the proposed price was adequate for the necessary performance of contract obligations.
The protest was denied.
Digest
Protest challenging evaluation of awardee’s price is denied where the solicitation did not require a price realism evaluation and the price evaluation conducted was reasonable and consistent with the stated evaluation criteria.