NOAA moves on $2.1B IT modernization pact awards
By
Ross Wilkers
With all protests now in the rear view, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration makes awards for a $2.1 billion IT systems modernization blanket purchase agreement.
With all protests now in the rear view, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has moved ahead on making dozens of awards for a $2.1 billion IT systems modernization blanket purchase agreement.
The Commerce Department agency has so far chosen 81 companies to compete for task orders over the 10-year duration of the NOAA Mission IT Services contract, according to our analysis of Federal Procurement Data System information.
NMITS is a small business set-aside contract with five base years and a five-year option period. Bidders submitted responses to a final request for quotations released in May 2019 with quotes due on Oct. 1.
NOAA issued the awards on Thursday, Friday and Monday. Awardees identified in FPDS can be seen here.
Work areas include enterprise services, customer support, applications, enterprise and cloud computing, data and voice network services, cybersecurity and information assurance.
ASRC Federal appears to be the lone protestor who challenged their elimination from consideration from an award and made the final cut of 81.
Five protestors not selected were MKS2, Redhorse Corp. RIVA Solutions, Systems Integration & Development LLC and Technology Solutions Provider Inc.
ASRC Federal and MKS2 saw their protests dismissed in October and August respectively, Redhorse withdrew in July and Technology Solutions Provider did the same in September.
RIVA and Systems Integration & Development received Government Accountability Office denials of their protests in late October and early November respectively. The latter ruling remains sealed under a protective order.
A redacted version of GAO’s ruling against Riva was posted Nov. 5 and shows NOAA evaluated 85 responses it deemed as passing an initial compliance and eligibility review. All 85 prices were deemed fair and reasonable including that of RIVA’s.
Where RIVA apparently fell short in NOAA’s eyes was on the technical capability front with an “Unacceptable” rating, while management approach and past performance were rated “Acceptable.”
In its RFQ, NOAA asked vendors interested in the BPA to use a technical matrix format that outlines their corporate experience across six core management components and 40 service areas.
NOAA determined that RIVA’s quotation did not address certain areas called out as requirements in the RFQ and RIVA did not dispute such. RIVA instead argued that the agency unreasonably required all requirements be addressed in a bid.
GAO found otherwise and said the solicitation articulated that all service areas must be discussed in proposals.