IBM argues corrective action creates problems in $786M Army ERP solicitation

IBM has filed a fresh protest in its ongoing fight to win a $786.7 million enterprise resource planning support contract with the Army.

The contract is intended to consolidate support services for several ERP systems. Accenture was the original winner. Both Accenture and IBM are incumbents on some of the contracts being consolidated.

IBM’s original protest in February 2020 resulted in the Army taking a corrective action. After that second look, the Army again awarded the contract to Accenture. IBM then protested again, and again the Army has taken a corrective action.

The most recent protest from Big Blue claims that changes the Army made to the solicitation with this latest corrective action has resulted in an improperly written request for proposals.

In essence, IBM has filed a pre-award protest this time around.

The Government Accountability Office can decide a couple of ways. GAO can rule that IBM’s protest is premature, signaling that a protest is more appropriate after a contract has been awarded again. GAO can deny the protest outright, or agree with IBM and send the solicitation back to the Army for more revisions.

Of course, the Army might see some validity to IBM’s complaints and take a corrective action.

But whatever happens with this protest, the bottom line is just more delays for the contract. The current contracts have been in place for at least five years. They will continue to support systems including the Logistics Modernization Program, the Army Enterprise Systems Integration Program Hub, Global Combat Support Systems-Army, General Fund Enterprise Business Systems and GFEBS-Sensitive Activities.

IBM filed its protest Jan. 7 and a decision is expected by April 19.