$240M small biz contract draws protests

Two unsuccessful bidders are asking the Government Accountability Office to push the Army to take a second look at its decision to award a $248 million contract for systems engineering and technical assistance to a third company.

Optimal Solutions & Technologies Inc. won the contract with the Army’s Program Executive Office Simulation Training and instrumentation on Jan. 18, besting Kord Technologies and ASRC Communications.

They have each filed protests with GAO. Decisions are due May 10.

The contract had been held by ECS Federal, but they are no longer a small business and could not bid as a prime. Sources indicate that they are a sub to OST.

The Army uses the contract for a wide range of acquisition services including planning, requirements development, review of statements of work, support on evaluations and support for the management of the procurement process.

In a press release about the win, OST said it would be supporting Army vision statements, strategic planning, program oversight, development architectures and prototype development.