CACI challenges $100M Navy SETA award

Gettyimages.com/ Stocktrek Images

Find opportunities — and win them.

CACI claims the price submitted by Serco Inc. is too low and that key personnel in the bid are not available.

CACI International is challenging a $100 million award that went to Serco's North American subsidiary and has laid out claims of a bait-and-switch by the latter.

The Navy picked Serco for a range of support generally known as SETA, or systems engineering and technical assistance work. The contract supports the Naval Sea Systems Command, Naval Shipyard and Naval industrial base efforts.

Serco Inc. will focus on workforce/workload management, logistics services, business operations and total force initiatives. The Navy used its Seaport-NxG professional services contract vehicle to award the order.

The task order is broken out into six task areas:

  • Program management support
  • LEAN process innovation
  • Project management training and integrated project team development
  • Broader community workforce and team development
  • Project execution-deck plate coaching and development support
  • Environmental, safety and health programs

CACI is the incumbent contractor and argues that Serco Inc. submitted an unrealistically low price. The bait-and-switch part of CACI's complaint alleges that key personnel in Serco Inc.’s bid are no longer available, but were included in the proposal anyway.

Serco Inc. declined comment.

CACI filed its protest on July 24 and a Government Accountability Office decision is expected Nov. 1.