Pre-award protest hits CDM DEFEND cyber order
By
Ross Wilkers
Near the moment that proposals were due, one bidder files a pre-award protest against requirements for the final task order to support the governmentwide 'CDM DEFEND' cyber initiative.
One final large contract for the government’s Continuous Diagnostics and Mitigation cybersecurity effort may have to wait slightly longer for a final award.
Tetra Tech’s Indus Corp. subsidiary has filed a pre-award protest to the Government Accountability Office that challenges the terms of a task order solicitation that is part of the $3.4 billion CDM DEFEND initiative.
CDM DEFEND is a joint effort of the General Services Administration and Homeland Security Department and has seen five awards to date. Winners integrate new cybersecurity tools and services to agencies by group.
The order subject to Indus’ protest is for Group F agencies, or in this case small and micro agencies not covered by the Chief Financial Officers Act of 1990. This solicitation will result in a cost-reimbursement task order, which typically includes requirements regarding bidders’ accounting systems.
Indus apparently is objecting to what GSA and DHS are requiring with respect to the accounting systems. The protest was filed on Thursday with proposals due Friday (today). GSA can accept and evaluate proposals but no award can be made until a ruling on the protest.
Details on the value of the Group F order are sparse. For GAO to have jurisdiction on the matter, award values have to exceed $10 million.
If GAO has jurisdiction, then a decision would be made by April 13. Tetra Tech officials have not responded to a request for comment, but we will update this post if and when we hear back.