Disappointed bidder seeks second chance at $1.9B IRS pact

One of the almost two dozen companies that did not make the cut for a seven-year, $1.9 billion IT services pact at the IRS is taking issue with how the agency evaluated its bid.

The IRS made five awards during the week started Aug. 7 for its Enterprise Program Project Integration Services blanket purchase agreement, which supports the agency's office responsible for managing both the overall IT budget and capability delivery function.

Centennial Technologies, Deloitte, ETelligent Group, Integrated Systems and Noblis emerged as winners out of the 27 quotes submitted.

A sixth company in Chevo Consulting wants at least a second evaluation of its proposal and is filing a protest to do so. Chevo is challenging how the IRS rated the company's technical and management approach, plus small business participation plans.

Chevo also claims it did not receive appropriate credit for past performance and the IRS did not document its analysis of the bid, which the company argues resulted in a flawed best-value tradeoff.

Chevo filed its protest on Thursday and the Government Accountability Office's deadline for a decision is Nov. 18, unless the IRS decides to re-examine Chevo's bid or the company withdraws from the matter.