Court to GSA: Reopen bidding on FedBizOpps contract

The Federal Claims Court late last week directed the General Services Administration to vacate its award to Symplicity Corp. of Arlington, Va., to run the federal procurement Web site, FedBizOpps.gov.

In a draft decision, the court found that GSA did not evaluate the proposals properly, and said that if the agency continues with the procurement, it should appoint a new source selection committee, which should re-evaluate the original proposals of Symplicity, the protester, Information Sciences Corp. of Silver Spring, Md., and the intervenor, Development Infostructure (Devis) Corp. of Arlington, Va.

GSA awarded Symplicity a $17.4 million contract that includes three base years and five one-year options in December after re-evaluating bids after a first protest by Devis and ISC. But even after the December award, ISC and Devis believed GSA has made some errors.

"We're pleased that our concerns with the [FedBizOpps] award decision have been validated by the court, and that the court recognized that Devis submitted such a highly rated proposal to the government," said Rob Ryland, Devis' attorney with Kirkland & Ellis LLP of Washington. "The judge apparently agreed with us that a 'series of unfortunate events,' derailed what was otherwise a well-run, fair competition that highlighted the excellent technical work of GSA as an organization."

Peter Gallagher, president of Devis, added that he hopes GSA makes a decision about the procurement quickly.

Calls seeking comment from GSA and Symplicity were not immediately returned. ISC officials were not immediately available for comment.

Jason Miller is assistant managing editor of Washington Technology's sister publication, Government Computer News.