United States Government Publishing Office publisher pbl distributor dst United States Government Accountability Office author aut Government Organization text government publication eng GAOREPORTS Legislative Agency Publications gao_comptroller_general legislative 2016-06-23 U.S. Government Publishing Office 1998-07-20 monographic deposited born digital 14 p. GA 1.13:B-279637.2 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-B-279637-2 P0b002ee18fd49fa1 f:2796372 DGPO 2016-06-23 2016-06-23 GAOREPORTS-B-279637-2 machine generated eng fdlp COMPTROLLERDECISION GAOREPORTS-B-279637-2 B-279637.2 Comptroller General Decision

1. Agency did not conduct misleading discussions where protester and awardee both initially proposed similar number of staffing hours for food services and the agency advised both offerors that these staffing hours were understated; the fact that protester increased its proposed staffing hours more than the awardee reflects protester's business judgment.<p/>2. Contracting agency reasonably evaluated awardee's experience and past performance as acceptable based on the combination of proposed subcontractor's strong past experience in food services and the awardee's own lack of experience in that area.<p/>3. Protest that agency should have found awardee's proposal technically unacceptable because awardee may not comply with requirement that at least 50 percent of the cost of personnel incurred must be for employees of a small business concern is denied where awardee stated in its proposal that it would comply with the requirement and submitted a compliance certification to the Small Business Administration (SBA), which found the awardee eligible for award.<p/>4. Agency's submittal of a request to SBA for an 8(a) eligibility determination and the resulting communications between the agency, SBA, and the 8(a) firm concerning SBA requirements for a teaming agreement do not constitute improper discussions. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-B-279637-2/html/GAOREPORTS-B-279637-2.htm https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-B-279637-2/pdf/GAOREPORTS-B-279637-2.pdf GAO/B-279637.2 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-B-279637-2 Comptroller General Decision GAO/B-279637.2; Hago-Cantu Joint Venture, B-279637.2, July 20, 1998; Title 15 Section 644(o)(1)(A) 15 U.S.C. 644(o)(1)(A)