The solicitation was set aside for service-disabled, veteran-owned small businesses (SDVOSB) that teamed with other SDVOSBs. The protester claimed it had proposed a team of SDVOSBs. The agency could not verify that the protester’s team member was an SDVOSB. The protester’s proposal listed the team member as “Alaris Advisors.” But the protester had only shown that an entity named “Alaris Advisers” was a verified SDVOSB. Offerors must provide detailed information that demonstrates compliance with the solicitation. The agency reasonably found the protester ineligible.
Kizano Corporation, GAO B-420858.4
Background
The Department of Veterans Affairs issued a solicitation for business support services. The solicitation was set aside for SDVOSBs, but it had three-tiered evaluation process. First, the VA would evaluate proposals from SDVOSBs that teamed with other SDVOSBs. If there wasn’t enough competition in the first tier, the VA would evaluate proposals from SDVOSBs that teamed with small businesses. If there still wasn’t adequate competition, the VA would move to the third tier to consider proposals from SDVOSBs teamed with large businesses.
The VA received 141 proposals, including a proposal from Kizano Corporation. Kizano proposed as a tier 1 team. But the VA could not determine whether Kizano’s subcontractor, Alaris Advisers, was an SDVOSB. Accordingly, the VA placed Kizano’s proposal in tier 3.
The VA determined there was sufficient competition from tier one proposals, so it didn’t consider Kizano’s proposal. Kizano filed a protest.
Analysis
Kizano claimed it’s subcontractor was a verified SDVOSB so it should have been classified as tier 1. In support, Kizano submitted a letter from the VA’s Center of Verification and Evaluation stating Alaris Advisers was a verified SDVOSB. Kizano said Alaris was listed in the VA’s VetBiz database as an SDVOSB.
But GAO noted Kizano’s proposal listed the subcontractor as Alaris Advisors. Kizano had not explained the discrepancy in names. It had also not explained why the Alaris Advisers listed in the CVE letter had a different DUNS number than the Alaris Advisors in the proposal. The VA reasonably found Kizano ineligible for tier 1.
Kizano is represented by William T. Welch and Orest J. Jowyk of Reston Law Group, LLP. The intervenor is represented by Brendan O’Donnell of Strategic Ventures Consulting Group, LLC. The agency is represented by Aleia Barlow and Catherin Gilabert of the Department of Veterans Affairs. GAO attorneys Kasia Dourney and Alexander O. Levine participated in the decision.
–Case summary by Craig LaChance, Senior Editor
