Decision released in protest denial of DISA identity assurance support requirement

DIGEST

Protest that agency unreasonably assessed a deficiency in the protester’s quotation is denied where protester failed to comply with a solicitation requirement.

DISCUSSION

ESM contends that the agency unreasonably assessed a deficiency in its quotation under the JSP ECA support subfactor. 3 Protest at 13-18; Comments at 5-13.  The protester also asserts that the agency overlooked numerous aspects of ESM’s quotation that warranted a finding of additional strengths under the technical/management factor. 4 Protest at 18-23; Comments at 14-20.  As discussed below, we find that the agency reasonably assessed ESM’s quotation a deficiency under the JSP ECA support subfactor.  Because this deficiency renders ESM’s technical quotation unacceptable and ineligible for award, we need not address the protester’s remaining challenges to the agency’s evaluation of ESM’s quotation.  Where, as here, an agency conducts a competition under an RFQ issued to vendors under the FSS provisions of FAR subpart 8.4, we will review the record to ensure that the agency’s evaluation was reasonable and consistent with the terms of the solicitation and applicable procurement laws and regulations.  Battelle Mem’l Inst., B-420253 et al., Jan. 12, 2022, 2022 CPD ¶ 31 at 5; CW Government Travel, Inc., B-419193.4 et al., Apr. 15, 2021, 2021 CPD ¶ 188 at 5.  The evaluation of quotations is a matter within the discretion of the procuring agency; we will not question the agency’s evaluation absent a showing that the evaluation was unreasonable or inconsistent with the solicitation. Battelle Mem’l Inst., supra; Analytical Innovative Solutions, LLC, B-408727, Nov. 6, 2013, 2013 CPD ¶ 263 at 3.  A protester’s disagreement with the agency’s judgment, without more, does not establish that an evaluation was unreasonable. Deloitte Consulting, LLP, B-416882.4, Jan. 6, 2020, 2020 CPD ¶ 21 at 4…

DECISION

Enterprise Solutions & Management Corporation (ESM), a small business of Springfield, Virginia, protests the award of a contract to Agile-Bot II, LLC, a small business of Reston, Virginia, under request for quotations (RFQ) No. 832200002, issued by the Department of Defense (DOD), Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) for identity assurance support.  The protester contends that the agency unreasonably assessed a deficiency in ESM’s quotation under the technical/management approach factor and, based on this error, improperly evaluated the quotation as unacceptable.  The protester also challenges various other aspects of the agency’s technical evaluation and award decision.    We deny the protest.

See the decision here.

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