One protester backs away from PACTS III challenge

A joint venture withdrew its protest over the PACTS III contract vehicle barely two weeks after the Homeland Security Department revamped the solicitation.

But three other protests remain open at the Government Accountability Office.

PACTS III is a small business set-aside vehicle for professional services. It has an $8.4 billion ceiling over 10 years. The acronym stands for Program Management, Administrative, Clerical, and Technical Services.

Four companies filed protests after DHS released the solicitation. They complained about how past performance would be evaluated and what past performance would be accepted from small businesses and joint ventures.

DHS has since issued amendments this month to expand the past performance criteria, which now allows bidders to submit non-federal projects and projects from tier-one subcontractors.

The department also further explained some definitions and requirements around accounting systems and facility clearances.

On Tuesday, the BluePath-Systems Planning & Analysis Alliance joint venture withdrew its protest. Companies are not required to disclose why they withdraw their protests.

Still open at GAO are protests filed by IPAK, Team Escalate and Competitive Innovations.

GAO's protest docket pegs July 17 as the due date for a decision on the Competitive Innovations protest and July 22 for the other two challenges.