Updated May 1, 2025
The back-and-forth battle continues – just days after a new award decision was announced for this 5-year US Air Force task order, a new challenge has been filed with GAO.
Protester: Centuria Corporation
Solicitation Number: FA8773-23-R-0003
Agency: Department of the Air Force
File number: B-422245.6
Status: Case Currently Open
Filed Date: Apr 29, 2025
Due Date: Aug 7, 2025
Related Data
Updated February 11, 2025
A bit more details were posted as to the current status of this contract which supports the 67th Cyberspace Wing (67 CW) Defense Cyberspace Operations (COO).
An extension was put in place for Contract No. FA877318D0002/FA877324F0019 Cyber Systems & Services Solutions. This new period of performance will be issued for the recurring Cyber Protection Team (CPT) support services (Mission Operation/Mission Support). This extension will provide a qualified team with the expertise and theoretical and practical knowledge to support Mission Operations and Mission Support, to include but not limited to system security engineering, security technology evaluation, compliance assessments, weapon systems maintenance, unit Line Maintenance, Weapons and Tactics, Training, Standards and Evaluations, and the Risk Management Framework (RMF). The extension is for a period of 12 months (four 3-month options).
The follow-on, DCRIOS II, FOPR No. FA877323R0003,was competitively awarded on 5 Dec 23 and was on track to meet the 9 Feb 25 need date. On 11 Dec 23 and 5 Aug 24, the agency received a Government Accountability Office (GAO) post-award protests, as a result, a stop work order was issued on 12 Dec 23 on the first award and a stop work order was issued on the second award on 5 Aug 24.Corrective action was taken on the first award that resulted in the second award decision. GAO post-award protest was sustained on 13 Nov 24.
A competitive follow-on effort is in the post-award corrective action phase. The bridge action is needed as a result of two post-award protests that decimated the acquisition timeline. Once the government has completed post-award corrective action, a new competitive award decision will be made.
Updated November 29, 2024
Decision Released: USAF Defensive Cyber Realization, Integration, and Operational Support (DCRIOS) Services protest sustainment
File: B-422245.5
Digest – Protest challenging agency’s determination that protester’s proposal was ineligible for award because it failed to include proof of a required certification is sustained where the solicitation required proof that the prime contractor had the certification at the time of proposal submission and, due to a merger between the protester and its wholly owned subsidiary, the prime contractor has the required certification.
Discussion – DecisionPoint challenges the agency’s determination that its proposal was ineligible for award because it failed to include proof of any level III CMMI certification for the prime contractor providing the CPT support services, as required by the FOPR. The protester argues that the agency’s determination is improper because the solicitation did not require submission of proof of the certificate at the time of proposal submission. The protester also argues that the agency’s decision was unreasonable because it failed to consider EmeSec’s merger into DecisionPoint[8] and the novation of the VETS II contract from EmeSec to DecisionPoint. As discussed below, although we find that the FOPR required offerors to submit evidence of a level III CMMI certification at the time of proposal submission, we conclude that the Air Force’s determination that DecisionPoint’s proposal failed to meet this requirement was not reasonable and sustain the protest on this basis …
Decision – DecisionPoint Corporation, known at the time of proposal submission as EmeSec Inc., a service-disabled veteran-owned small business (SDVOSB) of Gaithersburg, Maryland, protests the Department of the Air Force’s rejection of its proposal under fair opportunity proposal request (FOPR) No. FA8773-23-R-0003, for defensive cyber realization, integration, and operational support (DCRIOS) services. The agency determined that it could not make award to the protester because EmeSec did not demonstrate that it held a required certification at the time it submitted its proposal. The protester argues that the solicitation did not require the certification at the time of proposal submission and, even if it did, the agency improperly ignored the effect of a novation in finding that EmeSec’s proposal did not comply with the certification requirement.
We sustain the protest.
Updated November 15, 2024
The back-and-forth battle continues for this important 5-year US Air Force task order.
GAO sided with the protestor and the agency will need to take action before this VETS 2 task order can proceed. No details have been provided at this time. More will be shared as soon as it is made available
Protester: DecisionPoint Corporation- fka Emesec Inc.
Solicitation Number: FA8773-23-R-0003
Agency: Department of the Air Force
File number: B-422245.5
Outcome: Sustained
Updated July 29, 2024
Sometimes protests do pay off. The US Air Force has just announced that, after a series of challenges were filed with GAO, it is switching horses on this important 5-year task order.
The latest word out of the US Air Force is that it has made a new award decision on this heavily competed task order which was released on the Veterans Technology Services 2 (VETS 2) Governmentwide Acquisition Contract (47QTCH-18-D-0008). The new task order award, valued at $83,184,747, has been awarded to Centuria Corporation.
Awardee Name: CENTURIA CORPORATION
Unique Entity ID: UNHSMQN5UNR8
Total Contract Value: $83,184,747.00
Action Obligation: $1,136,630.40
Department Name: DEPT OF DEFENSE
Funding Agency: U.S. CYBER COMMAND
Number of Bidders: 10
Award ID: FA877324F0095
Referenced IDV ID: 47QTCH18D0008
Contract Vehicle: GSA VETS 2
RFP ID: FA877323R0003
This award displaces the award which was made to DecisionPoint at the end of 2023. (see initial award details below)
Details related to the rationale for the switch have not been provided at this time.
Work will be performed at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, and Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, and is expected to be completed by July 8, 2029. The Acquisition Management and Integration Center, Detachment, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, is the contracting activity (FA8773-24-F-0095).
Updated March 20, 2024
The latest protest filed in relation to this US Air Force requirement has been dismissed.
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: Centuria Corporation
Solicitation Number: FA8773-23-R-0003
Agency: Department of the Air Force
File number: B-422245.1
Outcome: Dismissed
Decision Date: Mar 19, 2024
Added December 5, 2023
Beating out 9 other bidders, EmeSec a subsidiary of DecisionPoint, a Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) SBA HUBZone certified business and innovation thought leader in the Federal community delivering transformative IT Support Services, was awarded an estimated 5 1/2-year task order under the Veterans Technology Services 2 (VETS 2) Governmentwide Acquisition Contract (GWAC) for Defensive Cyber Realization, Integration, and Operational Support II Services.
Work will be performed at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas; and Scott Air Force Base, Illinois. The Acquisition Management and Integration Center, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, is the contracting activity (FA8773-24-F-0010).
Source: DoD
Awardee Name: DECISIONPOINT CORPORATION
Unique Entity ID: GPASKFTTVQL9
Total Contract Value: $83,088,428.68
Action Obligation: $1,649,945.44
Department Name: DEPT OF DEFENSE
Funding Agency: DEPT OF THE AIR FORCE
Number of Bidders: 10
Award ID: FA877324F0010
Referenced IDV ID: 47QTCH18D0013
Contract Vehicle: GSA VETS 2
RFP ID: FA877323R0003
Background
The DCRIOS contract supports the 67th Cyberspace Wing (67 CW) Defense Cyberspace Operations (COO). The contract provides Cyber Protection Teams (CPT) and support functions for the 567th and 867th COG. The contract provides program development and evolution as well as tool and technology evolution. All CPT functions fall under the 67 CW, 567/867 COG. and support mission assurance using Defense Cyber Operations (DCO) capabilities in support of DoD assets. CPTs include assessing cyberspace terrain and conducting risk analysis with regard to the designated networks/systems.
The assessment and analysis include deploying, integrating and providing advanced protection capabilities, identifying adversary maneuver, and mitigating adversary operations in and across cyberspace key terrain IAW the USCYBERCOM Joint Cyberspace Training and Certification Standards (JCT&CS). The core functions of CPTs are to conduct Hunt operations, Identify tasks and objectives to be supported by CPT effects and identify and defend mission partners cyberspace key terrain and critical assets, and aid in the execution of tasks and the development and execution of the Risk Mitigation Plan (RMP), Mission Defense Plan (MOP), or other various reports developed by the CPT.
Not Yet a Premium Partner/Sponsor? Learn more about the OS AI Premium Corporate and Individual Plans here. Plans start at $295 annually.