“ASRC Federal’s fight to wrestle away a Defense Health Agency modernization contract from American Systems took some interesting turns along the way but is not a victory in the end.”
“The conflict stems from the award of an $11.6 million phase III Small Business Innovation Research contract that American Systems initially won to help modernize the delivery of health care. DHA sought to build on phase I and phase II contracts that American Systems held. The work is to turn DHA’s main in-theater medical information environment into a modular and portable software suite.”
“In its first protest, ASRC Federal claimed the award to American Systems was improper because the latter didn’t hold the phase I and II contracts.”
“Here is where the arcane nature of government contracting rears its ugly head.”
“American Systems gained the contracts in question two years ago when it acquired DDL Omni Engineering. But the contract in question was never novated from DDL to American Systems, which meant ASRC Federal successfully argued then that American Systems was not eligible for the phase III award.”
“GAO agreed and told DHA last year to re-evaluate its requirements…” Read the full article here.
Source: American Systems corrects novation issues, takes DHA modernization contract – By Nick Wakeman, December 1, 2020. Washington Technology.
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