As part of discussions, the agency asked the protester to highlight the changes made to its revised quotation. The protester submitted a revised quotation, but the agency rejected it, finding the protester had not highlighted the changes. The protester begged to differ, but GAO sided with the agency. The agency’s instructions about highlighting were clear. The protester had not properly highlighted the changes.
Federal Working Group, Inc., GAO B-422251.7
- Key Personnel Resume Instruction – The agency solicited various IT services. The solicitation included requirements for the submission of a “Key Personnel Resume Template” along with the warning that “Any information provided in addition to the Key Personnel Resume Template will not be considered or evaluated.” The agency determined that the protester’s and the awardee’s quotations did not comply with the key personnel requirements. The agency conducted discussions asking both parties to, “[p]lease update the information for each of the key personnel…highlighting any changes, or using a different font color so changes were readily apparent.”
- Protester’s Revised Key Personnel – The protester and the awardee submitted revised quotations. The protester’s revised quotation included an Excel file below the original resumes that contained “the additional information requested.” The agency said the revised quotation was unacceptable because the changes were not highlighted and it was unclear whether the added information replaced or supplemented the previous quotation. GAO agreed with the agency. The solicitation and agency instructions required offerors to highlight the changes. The protester had not highlighted.
- Awardee’s Revision Sufficient – The protester also claimed that if its revised quotation was insufficient, so was the awardee’s. GAO did not buy it. The awardee had revised its template and highlighted its changes so that the agency could reasonably find that it met the minimum key personnel requirements.
The protester was represented by Jonathan D. Shaffer, Edmund M. Amorosi, and Michael Maroulis of Haynes and Boone, LLP. Scott M. McCaleb, Tracye Winfrey Howard, and Lisa M. Rechden of Wiley Rein LLP represented the intervenor. The agency was represented by Stephanie Quade of the Department of Treasury. Glenn G. Wolcott and Christina Sklarew of GAO participated in the preparation of the decision.
— Case summary by Joshua Lim, Assistant Editor
