Decision Released: NOAA NWS IT security controls assessments protest denial

Background

On October 13, 2023, NOAA issued a Solicitation seeking Assessment and Authorization (“A&A”) services for NOAA’s National Weather Service (“NWS”).  The Solicitation contemplates award of a single Blanket Purchase Agreement (“BPA”) to a contractor who would conduct IT security controls assessments, including for cloud and on-premises systems within a parent/child organizational model; continuously monitor IT systems; conduct penetration testing; perform compliance reviews; and create final Assessment packages and reports …

Discussion

NOAA received 21 proposals, including one from ITegrity and one from AttainX, which are the only two Offerors relevant to this protest.  AR 2086-87.  Both ITegrity and AttainX were rated “acceptable” for technical capability, and NOAA thus evaluated both offeror’s past performance references …

Decision

In this post-award bid protest, ITegrity, Inc., the incumbent contractor, challenges the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (“NOAA” or the “Agency”) Past Performance Evaluation.  Specifically, Plaintiff alleges that the Agency’s evaluation of its Past Performance minimized its performance on the incumbent contract and downgraded its confidence rating based on less relevant past performance references.  This, argues Plaintiff, was irrational, arbitrary, or capricious and effectively precluded it from receiving the award.

ITegrity timely filed its Motion for Judgment on the Administrative Record on November 8, 2024, seeking a permanent injunction preventing NOAA from proceeding with the contract award and asks the Court to set aside NOAA’s award. The Government and Intervenor filed their respective Responses and Cross-Motions for Judgment on the Administrative Record.  The Motions are fully briefed, and oral argument is unnecessary.

For the reasons set forth below, the Court holds that NOAA properly documented its decision and that its analysis is reasonable.  Therefore, the Court GRANTS the Government’s and Intervenor’s Cross-Motions for Judgment on the Administrative Record and DENIES ITegrity’s Motion for Judgment on the Administrative Record.

Read the decision here.

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