“DIGEST – Request for reconsideration is denied where the protester does not demonstrate that our decision contained legal or factual error.”
“BACKGROUND – On July 30, 2019, the VA issued the RFQ to procure research services in order to produce scientific portfolio analyses of chronic diseases prevalent in the American veteran population. RFQ at 4. The RFQ contemplated the award of a fixed-price contract to be performed over a 1-year base period and four 1-year option periods. Id. at 4, 34.
The RFQ advised that award would be made on a best-value tradeoff basis, considering technical, price, and past performance factors. RFQ at 33. The RFQ instructed vendors to include technical, past performance, and cost volumes in their quotations. Id. at 26. The technical volume was required to demonstrate an understanding of the work to be performed and the agency’s requirement. Id. at 26. The past performance volume was required to identify up to five referenced contracts of similar size, scope, and complexity. Id.
Four vendors, including BluePath and Rios Partners, submitted quotations prior to the August 14, 2019, close of the solicitation period. Contracting Officer’s Statement of Fact (COS), Nov. 20, 2019, at 2. On August 30, the agency made award to Rios Partners. Id.
On September 9, 2020, BluePath filed a protest with our Office challenging that award. Protest, B-417960. BluePath alleged that the agency unreasonably evaluated both its and Rios Partners’s past performance. Id. at 3. Specifically, BluePath argued that “Rios Partners has no past performance experience with contracts similar to the one at issue here.” Id. BluePath further argued that it had superior past performance experience. Id. On September 23, the VA informed our Office that it would terminate the award to Rios Partners and reevaluate quotations, and requested dismissal of the protest. Req. for Dismissal, Sept. 23, 2019, at 2. Shortly thereafter, our Office dismissed the protest allegations as academic. BluePath Labs, LLC, B‑417960, Sept. 27, 2019 (unpublished decision).
On October 30, 2019, the VA completed its reevaluation, and re-awarded the contract to Rios Partners. COS, Nov. 20, 2019, at 2. On November 12, BluePath filed a protest with our Office, arguing again that Rios Partners lacked relevant past performance, and that the agency unreasonably evaluated its quotation and improperly made a tradeoff analysis. Protest, B-417960.2, at 2-8….”
“DECISION – BluePath Labs, LLC, of Washington, D.C., requests reconsideration of our decision, BluePath Labs, LLC–Costs, B-417960.4, May 19, 2020, 2020 CPD ¶ 175, wherein our Office denied the firm’s request for reimbursement of its costs for filing and pursuing its protest. BluePath Labs had previously challenged the award of a contract to Rios Partners, LLC, of Arlington, Virginia, under request for quotations (RFQ) No. 36C24E19Q0127, issued by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for research analysis services.
We deny the request for reconsideration.”
