Protest decision clears Vencore to start work on $113M NOAA contract

With a bid protest behind it, Vencore can now start work on a $113 million contract to support the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service (NESDIS).

Vencore was able to announce the award after the Government Accountability Office denied a bid protest by Noblis. Noblis filed several claims with GAO, including that it was treated unfairly by NOAA and that the agency's best value evaluation was flawed. GAO rejected all of Noblis' complaints.

Vencore's bid of $113 million was $20 million higher than Noblis' $93 million bid, but Vencore outscored Noblis with its key personnel rating of Outstanding. Noblis was rated very good. Noblis' lower price also raised risk concerns for NOAA, according to the GAO report.

The NESDIS service acquires and manages the nation's environmental satellites, operates NOAA ‘s National Centers for Environmental Information, provides data and information services including earth system monitoring, performs official assessments of the environment, and conducts related research, Vencore said in a release.

Under the contract, Vencore will work with NESDIS to deliver systems engineering services and solutions to sustain legacy systems and enable the transition of future ground systems for new environmental satellites.

For more contract awards, see our WT Insider-exclusive Contract Award Database, featuring every award we have covered since January 2013.