Updated: Gov sides with protestor of DHS CWMD Financial and Program Management Support Services task

Updated May 9, 2024

GAO released details of the basis for the recent protest sustainment related to this DHS financial and program management support services support requirement which was competed on PACTS II.

Digest

1. Protest challenging the assignment of a “positive” rating to the awardee’s proposal is sustained where the agency failed to respond to the allegation that the assignment of the positive was unreasonable.
2. Protest that the agency failed to identify discriminators between the proposals is sustained where the agency performed an evaluation of the acceptability of the offerors’ proposals under two factor elements instead of conducting a qualitative evaluation of the proposals, as required under the solicitation.

Discussion

ITility asserts that DHS unreasonably assigned IFAS’s proposal a positive for its proposed use of the ACL tool. The protester further asserts that the agency unreasonably failed to recognize two discriminators between the offerors’ proposals. We consider those allegations and, as discussed below, we find merit to them.[4] After reviewing the evaluation challenges, we consider whether the protester has demonstrated a reasonable possibility of prejudice, and we find that ITility has. We therefore sustain the protest.

As noted above, DHS assessed IFAS’s proposal a positive under the technical capability and approach factor for its proposed use of ACL to conduct transaction level testing. The TET noted that IFAS would use ACL to assist the agency in establishing an enterprise risk management (ERM) effort. AR, Tab 5, TET Report at 11. The source selection authority singled out this portion of the positive in making the selection decision, stating: “IFAS showed an ability to anticipate the Government’s needs and this is especially true for Factor 1 [technical capability and approach] with IFAS proposing the use of the ACL tool to establish the …

Decision

ITility, LLC, of Chantilly, Virginia, protests the issuance of a task order to Integrated Finance and Accounting Solutions, LLC (IFAS), of Washington, DC, under request for proposals (RFP) No. 70RWMD23R00000003, issued by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to obtain financial and program management support services in support of DHS’s countering weapons of mass destruction (CWMD) office. The protester asserts that the agency’s evaluation of technical proposals was unreasonable, and that the agency thus conducted a flawed best-value tradeoff analysis.

We sustain the protest.

Read the decision here.

Related Data

IFAS wins DHS CWMD Budget & Finance support services contract … again

Updated May 4, 2024

It appears at least some portion of the challenge put forth resonated with the government as GAO has announced that they have sustained the Protest filed concerning this Department of Homeland Security requirement.

The government has not announced the next steps. More to be shared as it is made available.

Updated February 1, 2024

Several months after the initial protest was dismissed by GAO, a fresh challenge has now been filed in relation to this Department of Homeland Security requirement

Added October 12, 2023

OS AI Note: Dismissed does not necessarily mean resolved, and it can oftentimes indicate proactive steps taken by the government to address deficiencies or issues raised in the protest. More will be shared if it is made available.

Protestor ITility, LLC
Solicitation Number 70RWMD-23-R-00000003
Agency Department of Homeland Security
Outcome: Sustained
Decision Date: May 3, 2024

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