IBM files protest over VA's $12B T4 contract

IBM Corp. is protesting recent awards made under the Veterans Affairs Department’s $12 billion Transformation Twenty-One Total Technology program, known as T4.

IBM filed a protest with the Government Accountability Office on Aug. 2, the GAO announced.

It is the 10th protest to be filed against the T4 contract awards in recent months, according to GAO records. The other nine protests have been denied, dismissed or withdrawn.

IBM’s bid protest case is currently listed as “open” by GAO, with a deadline of Nov. 10 for a decision. The GAO attorney in charge of the case is Paul Jordan.

Under the T4 program, the VA was expected to awarded 15 contractors the opportunity to bid for task orders valued at up to $12 billion over five years. As of July 5, 14 of the contracts had been awarded, and the 15th was being held until resolution of a protest.

Seven of the T4 awards were made to veteran-owned and service-disabled veteran-owned businesses.

It was not immediately clear whether IBM’s protest would result in suspension of the T4 awards until GAO issues a decision. GAO officials did not immediately respond to a request for information.

Under the T4 contract, the selected companies will work on integrating VA systems, network and software to modernize the VA’s information technology infrastructure. The services and products may include program planning and management, systems and software engineering, cybersecurity, operation and maintenance, and support to facilities.