TITLE: B-296948.2; B-296948.3; B-296948.4, YORK Building Services, Inc., November 3, 2005
BNUMBER: B-296948.2; B-296948.3; B-296948.4
DATE: November 3, 2005
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B-296948.2; B-296948.3; B-296948.4, YORK Building Services, Inc., November 3, 2005

   DOCUMENT FOR PUBLIC RELEASE
   The decision issued on the date below was subject to a GAO Protective
   Order. This redacted version has been approved for public release.

   Decision

   Matter of: YORK Building Services, Inc.

   File: B-296948.2; B-296948.3; B-296948.4

   Date: November 3, 2005

   Thomas J. Madden, Esq., Terry L. Elling, Esq., Rebecca E. Pearson, Esq.,
   Tamara M. McNulty, Esq., and Carol F. Westmoreland, Esq., Venable LLP, for
   the protester.

   Ruth E. Ganister, Esq., Rosenthal and Ganister, for Obsi1, Inc., an
   intervenor.

   Elin M. Dugan, Esq., United States Department of Agriculture, for the
   agency.

   Paul N. Wengert, Esq., and Michael R. Golden, Esq., Office of the General
   Counsel, GAO, participated in the preparation of the decision.

   DIGEST

   Protest is sustained where source selection official failed to document
   rationale for source selection consistent with differential weighting of
   technical evaluation factors and emphasis on technical superiority as
   required by solicitation.

   DECISION

   YORK Building Services, Inc., a small business, protests the award of a
   contract by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) under
   request for proposals (RFP) No. RFP-OPPM-05-R-70 for janitorial services
   at the Agriculture South Building, the Jamie L. Whitten Building, and the
   Cotton Annex building,[1] and for recycling services only at the Sydney R.
   Yates Building, all located in Washington, DC. YORK objects that the
   evaluation of proposals was inconsistent with the RFP.

   We sustain the protest.

   The USDA issued the RFP as a small business set-aside on September 9,
   2004, seeking fixed-price proposals for a base period and four 1-year
   option periods. RFP at 8-9. The RFP emphasized the importance of technical
   superiority over price in the source selection, and listed three technical
   factors in descending order of importance: technical approach, management
   plan, and past performance. RFP at 121-23. Offerors were required to
   provide detailed information with respect to each aspect of the non-price
   factors for evaluation purposes. RFP at 121.

   USDA received 25 proposals, of which it found 23 technically unacceptable;
   the proposals of YORK and Obsi1, Inc. were the only two deemed technically
   acceptable. The contracting officer, who served as the source selection
   official (SSO), included only these two proposals in the competitive
   range. She conducted discussions with YORK and Obsi1, after which they
   submitted final proposal revisions. Contracting Officer's (CO) Statement
   at 1. The SSO noted the results of the evaluation in her source selection
   decision as follows:

   Final Proposal Revisions (based on a 12-month period):

   The final proposal revisions, including technical clarifications were
   timely received May 17. The Evaluation Panel reconvened and conducted
   follow up evaluations between May 24, 2005, through June 7, 2005. The
   Contracting Officer (CO) received the panel's final scores June 8, 2005.

   Overall Evaluated Total

   Company Prior Rating Revised Rating Base Price +Options

   a. Obsi1 81 88.0 $3,321,595.37 $16,662,584.10

   b. YORK 82 87.5 $[deleted] $[deleted]

   Agency Report (AR), Tab D, Source Selection Decision, at 2.[2]

   The SSO ultimately concluded that the proposals were technically equal and
   made award to Obsi1 on the basis of its lower price. After a debriefing,
   YORK protested to our Office.

   YORK raises a number of challenges to the procurement. As explained below,
   while we conclude that several are not meritorious, we sustain the protest
   on the basis of other flaws in the evaluation and selection raised by the
   protester.

   YORK first argues that the lower price offered by Obsi1 reveals that Obsi1
   would not provide sufficient labor to perform the services specified in
   the RFP, and that Obsi1's low price created performance risks that the
   agency failed to appreciate. The agency responds that Obsi1 committed to
   perform the required services, and even assuming that YORK is correct that
   Obsi1's fixed price is below the cost of performance, an offeror, in its
   business judgment, properly may decide to propose, and an agency may
   accept, a price that is below cost. See Brewer-Taylor Assocs., B-277845,
   Oct. 30, 1997, 97-2 CPD para. 124 at 4. We agree with the agency that this
   issue is without merit.[3]

   YORK next objects that the agency misevaluated Obsi1's price by taking
   into account a "renovation credit" of almost $[deleted] over the life of
   the contract to reflect a portion of the facilities that will be under
   renovation and, therefore, would not require services under the contract.
   YORK objects that the RFP limited deductions for added or deleted floor
   space to a separate contract line item price, specifically providing a
   rate for added or deleted space, RFP at 79-80, and that lowering Obsi1's
   evaluated price by allowing it to deduct the lump sum "renovation credit"
   in contemplation of the renovations resulted in an unequal competition.
   Supplemental Protest at 8. However, in addition to the contract line item
   price for additions and deletions of space, as cited by YORK, the RFP
   provided as follows:

   Currently the USDA Headquarters Complex is undergoing major renovations.
   Approximately 118,500 square feet of space will be under construction
   during each phase of renovation that should last throughout the entire
   duration of this contract. Therefore, when submitting offers do not
   include an amount for the 118,500 square feet of space that is expected to
   be out of service during the base and option years of this contract.

   RFP amend. 1.

   As a result, while an offeror could take the square footage deduction into
   account when calculating its fixed price, as YORK presumably did, we do
   not think it was objectionable for an offeror to choose to show the actual
   recalculation, as Obsi1 did. Obsi1 explains that this was intended to
   function as a "demonstration" to the SSO that Obsi1 had properly
   calculated its price. Intervenor's Supplemental Comments at 10. We
   conclude that the agency's evaluation, based on Obsi1's price after the
   deduction of the "renovation credit," was reasonable.

   YORK also objects that the agency conducted defective discussions by
   failing to advise YORK that its price was generally too high and by not
   discussing the fact that the agency had increased YORK's evaluated price
   under contract line item number (CLIN) 1 for the basic services in the
   base period. The agency revised YORK's CLIN 1 price from a 9-month period,
   as initially proposed by YORK, to a 12-month price (essentially a
   [deleted] percent increase for CLIN 1). YORK argues that since section B
   of the RFP specified that the base period would run from the date of award
   to September 30, 2005, it proposed a base period price for 9 months in its
   initial proposal[4] in order to redistribute significant nonrecurring and
   winter weather-related costs across the shortened base period, in view of
   the anticipated date of award. Supplemental Protest at 46. The agency
   responds that, while the length of the base period was uncertain (but
   would clearly be shorter than 1 year since there was less than a year
   between proposal submission and September 30, 2005), the RFP instructed
   offerors to provide both a "unit price" (based on "months" and indicated a
   quantity of "12") and also a "total" price for the base period.[5]
   Therefore, the agency argues that it was appropriate to revise YORK's base
   period total price to a 12-month price for purposes of evaluation and that
   no discussions were required.

   The agency's actions in this respect were consistent with the price
   evaluation scheme disclosed in the RFP. RFP at 8. YORK effectively
   concedes that there was an apparent conflict between the stated base
   period term (from date of award to September 30, 2005) and the price
   calculation method (12 months) as indicated in the RFP. The agency's
   evaluation on the basis of 12 months was consistent with the RFP; absent
   any indication in the proposal that YORK's 12-month price could not be
   calculated by multiplying its monthly unit price by 12, we think that the
   agency had no obligation to raise the issue during discussions.
   Additionally, since the agency did not view YORK's proposed price as
   unreasonably high, we also find no error in not raising the fact of YORK's
   price being higher than Obsi1's price during discussions. Uniband, Inc.,
   B-289305, Feb. 8, 2002, 2002 CPD para. 51 at 12.

   YORK identifies a number of alleged errors in the technical evaluation.
   YORK argues that the record shows that the agency improperly gave the
   technical approach and management plan evaluation factors equal weight,
   rather than giving the most weight to the technical approach factor,
   consistent with the weighting disclosed in the RFP. YORK also objects that
   the agency record does not contain documentation that would meaningfully
   support the determination of technical equivalence for the YORK and Obsi1
   proposals. Rather, YORK suggests that the evaluators focused merely on
   determining that both proposals were technically acceptable and that the
   SSO mechanically relied on total point scores to determine technical
   equality, and then the SSO awarded to Obsi1 on the basis of its lower
   price.

   An agency's obligation to conduct an evaluation consistent with the
   evaluation scheme set forth in the RFP includes the importance or
   weighting of the factors. 41 U.S.C. sections 253a(b)(1)(B), 253b(a)
   (2000); Federal Acquisition Regulation sections 15.204-5(c), 15.304(d),
   15.305(a); Dismas Charities, Inc., B-292091, June 25, 2003, 2003 CPD
   para. 125 at 9; see also M&S Farms, Inc., B-290599, Sept. 5, 2002, 2002
   CPD para. 174 at 8. The record confirms that, in evaluating proposals, the
   evaluators treated the technical approach and management plan evaluation
   factors as having equal weight by allowing a maximum of 35 points for
   each. AR, Tab D, Standards for Evaluation of Proposals, at 4. This
   weighting was contrary to the terms of the RFP, which indicated that
   technical approach was the most important evaluation factor. The record
   also indicates that the evaluators primarily sought to determine technical
   acceptability in evaluating final proposal revisions, which resulted in
   similar point scores and a final evaluation report that merely confirmed
   technical acceptability. The SSO appears to have then relied on those
   point scores in a mechanical fashion in concluding that the proposals of
   YORK and Obsi1 were technically equal and in awarding to Obsi1 on the
   basis of its lower price. Point scores are merely a guide to intelligent
   decisionmaking and their proximity does not, itself, establish technical
   equality. See Ogden Support Servs., Inc., B-270012, B-270012.2, Mar. 19,
   1996, 96-1 CPD para. 177 at 6.

   Although the SSO did discuss each offeror's past performance based on her
   own review, her consideration of the two most significant factors in the
   technical evaluation did not go beyond concluding that the YORK and Obsi1
   proposals met solicitation requirements and were technically acceptable.
   With regard to Obsi1's proposal, the SSO stated that

   Obsi1, Inc. clarified all technical concerns and submitted final proposal
   revisions that are inclusive of work statement requirements. Obsi1
   proposal score remains slightly above York's proposal, but both are
   substantially equal.

   AR, Tab D, Source Selection Decision, at 3.

   Concerning YORK's proposal, the SSO's comments similarly lacked any
   indication that she considered, or was aware of, the substance of the
   technical proposals or any evaluation consistent with the criteria in the
   RFP:

   York Building Services, Inc. too has responded satisfactorily to the panel
   concerns and demonstrates its capacity to perform required services and
   its proposal is substantially equal to Obsi1. York has also submitted a
   best and final offer inclusive of all requirements.

   Id. at 4.

   In explaining her selection decision, the SSO states that her
   determination that "both Obsi1, Inc. and York Building Services, Inc.
   reflect comparable technical superiority" was based upon "[her] review of
   the technical proposals and from the Technical Evaluation Panel's report."
   Id. Yet the record provides no support for this claim, as the SSO
   discussed only the least important of the evaluation factors, past
   performance.

   Significantly, to the extent that the SSO relied on the technical panel's
   report, the final technical report is conclusory and suggests an effort to
   confirm minimal acceptability, rather than to evaluate proposals on a
   comparative basis, giving the relative weights required by the RFP. The
   final technical panel report is one page and two lines in length, most of
   which consists of a summary of the procurement. After noting that "these
   offerors . . . demonstrated a thorough understanding of the Solicitation
   and at least a minimally acceptable level of experience, and an ability to
   provide janitorial service," the entire evaluation for each offeror merely
   noted acceptability and the total score:

   Obsi1, Inc. average score -- 88

   Overall the Panel found Obsi1 Inc.'s proposal overall acceptable. Obsi
   addressed all the clarifications to the proposal that were requested.
   Proposal addressed Environmental Products well overall and provided the
   list of products intended to be used as required by the PWS. Recycling
   Plan was clarified and found acceptable. Offeror clarified how they would
   address service calls.

   York Bldg. Services, Inc. average score 87.5

   Overall the Panel found York Building Service, Inc.'s proposal overall
   acceptable. York addressed all the clarifications that were requested. The
   offeror corrected the inconsistencies in their custodial work schedule.
   The offeror also provided information on the cleaning products by brand
   name and intended uses as required.

   AR, Tab D, Final Panel Evaluation Report, at 1-2.

   Thus, the record reflects that both the evaluation panel and the SSO
   evaluated final proposal revisions merely to verify their acceptability,
   rather than to assess relative quality or to evaluate whether either
   proposal was superior to the other under the evaluation factors and
   weightings required by the RFP.

   The agency essentially argues that YORK cannot establish that it suffered
   competitive prejudice by any of these evaluation flaws. For example, the
   agency argues that YORK cannot show that if the evaluation factors had
   been properly weighted, YORK's score would have been so high as to render
   a finding of technical equality impossible. Supplemental AR at vii. The
   agency also stresses that "the CO did not rely only on numerical scores to
   find that the York and Obsi1 proposals were technically equivalent."
   Supplemental AR at vii. The agency emphasizes that the SSO did discuss
   both offerors' excellent past performance in her final source selection
   decision and argues that a rescoring of that evaluation factor would not
   have overcome the price advantage of selecting Obsi1. Supplemental AR
   at x.

   In making these arguments, the agency has attempted to supply in its
   agency report new rationales, based on a hypothetically correct
   evaluation, for which there is no support in the contemporaneous record.
   Our Office will accord little or no weight to such arguments, which have
   been crafted in the heat of litigation. KEI Pearson, Inc., B-294226.3,
   B-294226.4, Jan. 10, 2005, 2005 CPD para. 12 at 8 n.13; Boeing Sikorsky
   Aircraft Support, B-277263.2, B-277263.3, Sept. 29, 1997, 97-2 CPD
   para. 91 at 15. Although YORK has not attempted to demonstrate that a
   reevaluation would necessarily preclude a finding of technical equality,
   as the agency suggests a protester must do, a protester is not required to
   show that it would definitely receive the award. Rather, our requirement
   that a protester demonstrate competitive prejudice means only that the
   protester must show that, but for the agency's actions, it would have had
   a substantial chance of receiving the award. McDonald-Bradley, B-270126,
   Feb. 8, 1996, 96-1 CPD para. 54 at 3; see Statistica, Inc. v. Christopher,
   102 F.3d 1577, 1581 (Fed. Cir. 1996).

   We conclude that, on this record, YORK was competitively prejudiced by the
   errors. Of particular significance, the record shows that YORK's proposal
   was scored higher than Obsi1's proposal on the most important evaluation
   factor, technical approach. The SSO's reliance on total scores (which
   themselves did not reflect the RFP's relative weighting of the factors)
   indicates that her selection decision did not consider the significance of
   YORK's apparent technical advantage under the most important technical
   evaluation factor.

   It is not clear from the current record whether the evaluation scheme in
   the RFP, which emphasizes technical merit over price, reflects the USDA's
   needs. Therefore, we recommend first that the USDA review the RFP to
   determine whether its evaluation scheme meets its needs. If not, we
   recommend that the USDA amend the RFP accordingly and reopen the
   competition. If the RFP accurately reflects the USDA's needs, we recommend
   that the USDA reevaluate the proposals consistent with the evaluation
   factors and the weighting scheme stated in the RFP, and adequately
   document the reevaluation. After performing its reevaluation, the USDA
   should make a new source selection. Upon the conclusion of this process,
   the USDA should either confirm the award to Obsi1 and provide a debriefing
   to YORK, or terminate the award to Obsi1 and award to YORK. In any event,
   we recommend that the USDA reimburse YORK the reasonable costs of filing
   and pursuing the protest, including reasonable attorneys' fees
   incurred.[6] YORK's certified claim for costs, detailing the time expended
   and the costs incurred, must be submitted to the agency within 60 days of
   receiving this decision. 4 C.F.R. sect. 21.8(f)(1).

   The protest is sustained.

   Anthony H. Gamboa

   General Counsel

   ------------------------

   [1] The RFP was amended to change the scope of services to be provided at
   the Cotton Annex building to recycling services only. RFP amend. 1.

   [2] A second round of discussions directed only to an issue involving the
   pricing of a line item to be used in the event of changes to the square
   footage was held on May 31. AR, Tab D, Negotiation Memorandum, at 4. YORK
   does not raise issues unique to the second round of discussions.

   [3] While acknowledging that an agency is not ordinarily required to
   conduct a price realism analysis where, as here, the solicitation seeks
   fixed prices, YORK nevertheless argues that the RFP required the agency to
   conduct a price realism analysis, because the RFP stated that "[t]he
   Government will evaluate price/cost of all offers included in the
   technical competitive range." Second Supplemental Protest at 22. The
   agency did evaluate the prices of both offerors in the competitive range,
   and found them reasonable. AR, Tab D, Negotiation Memorandum, at 4; AR,
   Tab D, Source Selection Decision, at 5. We agree with the agency, however,
   that the cited language did not require it to conduct a price realism
   analysis, nor would one have been required even if the agency had
   concluded that the price offered by Obsi1 was below cost.

   [4] In its initial proposal, YORK changed the CLIN 1 quantity from 12
   months to 9. AR, binder 2, Tab D, York Initial Proposal Volume I, at 122.
   The record indicates that, apparently due to the passage of time, YORK
   shortened the base period pricing to 4 months when submitting its final
   proposal revisions, which the agency similarly revised to 12 months for
   purposes of evaluation. AR, Tab D, Negotiation Memorandum, at 3; CO
   Statement at 5.

   [5] To the extent that there was an apparent conflict in the RFP between
   the base period term and the price calculation method, the conflict was
   patent. Rather than changing the pricing schedule in its proposal, YORK
   was obligated to protest this matter prior to the closing date for the
   submission of proposals. Bid Protest Regulations, 4 C.F.R.
   sect. 21.2(a)(1) (2005).

   [6] As a general rule, our Office will recommend reimbursement of costs on
   all issues pursued, not merely those on which the protester prevailed.
   Department of the Army--Modification of Remedy, B-292768.5, Mar. 25, 2004,
   2004 CPD para. 74 at 2-3. We do so here because the issues on which YORK
   is unsuccessful are interconnected and based on common factual
   underpinnings, and thus are not so clearly severable from the other issues
   as to constitute a separate protest. Blue Rock Structures, Inc.--Costs,
   B-293134.2, Oct. 26, 2005, 2005 CPD para. ___ at 3.