The protester alleged the awardee gained an unfair competitive advantage when it hired a former government official. GAO denied the protest because the official submitted a sworn declaration detailing his duties and lack of involvement in drafting the task order or the awardee’s proposal. The protester could not rebut the sworn statement.
Parsons Government Services Inc., GAO B-422849
- Protest – The agency issued a task order for intelligence and cyber operations solutions and services. The protester claimed the agency improperly evaluated the proposals and failed to properly consider whether the awardee had an unfair competitive advantage due to hiring a former government official.
- Weaknesses – The protester argued the agency unreasonably assigned weaknesses to multiple aspects of its proposal. The protester challenged these evaluations consistently referring to its proposal and oral presentation. GAO found these were merely disagreements with the evaluations.
- Unfair Advantage – The protester alleged the awardee had an unfair advantage when it hired a former Navy PCA. It argued his former duties gave him access to competitively sensitive information about the protester and its subcontractors through their performance of the predecessor effort. However, the former Navy PCA had submitted a sworn declaration that explained how he was not involved in any duties that would give the awardee an unfair advantage. Additionally, he had no substantive involvement in either the drafting of the task order request or the awardee’s proposal. GAO denied the protest finding it rested solely on innuendo or suspicion.
The protester was represented by Jeffery M. Chiow, Melissa P. Prusock, Eleanor M. Ross, and Cassidy Kim of Greenberg Traurig. The intervenor was represented by Paul F. Khoury, George E. Petel, Lisa M. Rechden, and Vaibhavi Patria of Wiley Rein LLP.
The agency was represented by Kelli Cochran-Seabrook and Nathan C. Bangsil of GSA/ Nathaniel S. Canfield and Evan D. Wesser of GAO participated in the preparation of the decision.
— Case summary by Joshua Lim, Assistant Editor
