Protest spotlight

(This regular feature highlights protests decided by the Government Accountability Office.)

Agency: Army

Awardee: ManTech Advanced Systems International

Protester: Sotera Defense Solutions

What GAO found: Sotera protested a task order awarded by the Army to ManTech for software and engineering support, arguing the Army "did not properly evaluate cost or technical proposals, and improperly converted the basis of award from a best-value tradeoff . . . to a lowest-cost technically acceptable basis," according to the GAO decision.

The solicitation was issued to contractors already on an existing contract vehicle. Five companies responded, the GAO report says.

ManTech had the lowest evaluated price at $158 million, while Sotera offered the highest at about $208 million, according to GAO. The service awarded the task order to ManTech.

In its protest, Sotera argued "the agency failed to recognize that the rates ManTech proposed for its proposed labor categories were too low." However, GAO disagreed, writing that it "find[s] no basis to disturb the award to ManTech."

Additionally, GAO wrote that Sotera was not an "interested party" to pursue the other questions it raised, including the one about a low-cost technically acceptable approach, because it would not be next in line for an award if a protest were sustained. It denied the protest.

Read the decision here.