The protester challenged the rejection of its proposal as technically unacceptable. GAO denied because the protester admitted it did not provide the specific make and model of its proposed equipment as the RFQ required.
Alliance Networks, WLL, GAO B-422995
- Protest – The agency awarded a contract for telecommunications services. The protester challenged the rejection of its quotation as technically unacceptable and claimed the agency should have held discussions or clarifications to allow it to fix its deficient quotation.
- Noncompliance – While the protester argued that it complied with the solicitation, it acknowledged that it “omitted the specific make and model of the equipment interfacing with the government network.” The RFQ specifically required vendors to list the make and model of all equipment to be used. Thus, GAO found the agency’s evaluation reasonable.
- Discussions – The protester claimed the agency should have engaged in discussions or issued evaluation notices that would permit the protester to fix its deficiencies. GAO disagreed since the RFQ did not require the agency to provide this opportunity. Rather, the RFQ provided that the agency intended to evaluate quotations and make an award without discussions. Therefore, GAO denied the protest.
The protester was represented by Adel Daylami and Mohamed Marhoon. The agency was represented by Susan M. Chagrin and Joshua D. Bell of DoD. April Y. Shields and Christina Sklarew of GAO participated in the preparation of the decision.
— Case summary by Joshua Lim, Assistant Editor
