GSA's new thinking for evaluating Polaris bids

With a timeout still in effect, the General Services Administration has unveiled some new thinking on how it will evaluate proposals for the $15 billion Polaris IT services and solutions contract vehicle.

In a Friday Sam.gov notice, GSA said it wants industry feedback on its planned adjustments to how the agency plans to evaluate relevant experience and past performance in proposals from joint ventures including those that are mentor-protege JVs.

GSA's planned changes are two-fold for mentor-protege JVs: a minimum of one primary relevant experience project or emerging technology relevant experience project must be from the protege, and no more than three primary relevant experience projects can come from the mentor.

Specifically for the WOSB track: a minimum of one primarily relevant experience or emerging technology relevant experience project must be from that member of a joint venture.

Both time and the protest docket will tell whether GSA's new thinking gains acceptance from industry given the Polaris solicitation's terms have already been challenged once already by BD Squared over a lack of requirements for small businesses to include relevance experience or past performance.

The Government Accountability Office dismissed that protest in late April after GSA said it would rework the solicitation.

Companies and teams pursuing Polaris or considering a bid for it have two key calendar items to keep in mind with GSA's announcement.

Responses to the draft language are due by May 23 to GSA, which is leaving in place pauses on both the Polaris solicitation itself and opening up the submission portal for bidders to send in their offers.

A final amendment then will follow sometime in June and establish a new deadline for proposals, which the agency is still encouraging bidders to pause activities on until that amendment's release.