ManTech, Peraton challenge $245M cyber warfare award to Booz Allen
Gettyimages.com/ Karunyapas
By
Nick Wakeman
Both protesters are taking issue with how the Army evaluated proposals to support the Joint Common Access Platform.
ManTech International and Peraton are objecting to a $245 million contract awarded to Booz Allen Hamilton that supports a platform for directing cyber warfare missions.
Booz Allen won the contract as a task order under the R4 contract vehicle, which the Army awarded in 2019 at a $1 billion ceiling for a 10-year period. The Army uses the vehicle to support the research and development of offensive cyber capabilities.
The task order in question supports activities under the Joint Common Access Platform with services such as engineering, design, software development, integration support, training, logistical support, configuration management and procurement.
JCAP is a software platform the supports the U.S. Cyber Command’s offensive and mission support teams. It is part of the Defense Department’s effort to modernize cyber warfare.
In their protests, ManTech and Peraton challenge multiple aspects of the Army’s evaluation of technical proposals. They also make separate allegations.
ManTech challenges the evaluation of Booz Allen's cost proposal. Peraton also alleges that the Army mistakenly found Booz Allen to be a responsible contractor, because the company settled a False Claims Act lawsuit in 2023 over allegedly improper billing practices.
The protests were filed July 8 and the Government Accountability Office will render a decision by Oct. 16.