Protest Denial Decision Posted: IRS Network Management Control Center (NMCC) IT and Operational Support Service

DIGEST

1. Protest that the agency failed to conduct meaningful discussions during corrective action is denied where the protester has not demonstrated a reasonable possibility of competitive prejudice.

2. Protest that the agency relaxed a material solicitation requirement for the awardee is denied where the solicitation did not advise that noncompliance with instructions could result in rejection of a proposal and the protester has not otherwise demonstrated how it would have altered its proposal to its competitive advantage had it known that the agency would waive a requirement for strict compliance with the solicitation’s instructions.

3. Protest that the agency failed to conduct a reasonable price realism analysis is denied where the record demonstrates that the agency evaluated proposals for price realism reasonably and in accordance with the solicitation’s terms.

4. Protest that the agency departed from the solicitation’s terms in evaluating a past performance reference is denied where the protester cannot demonstrate a reasonable possibility of competitive prejudice.

DECISION

1st SBC Solutions, LLC, an 8(a)[1] small business of Leesburg, Virginia, protests the issuance of a task order to Agovx LLC, an 8(a) small business of Bethesda, Maryland, under request for proposals (RFP) No. 2032H5‑24‑R‑00013, issued by the Department of the Treasury, Internal Revenue Service, for information technology services support. The protester contends that the agency failed to engage in meaningful discussions with the protester; unreasonably accepted Agovx’s proposal despite noncompliance with the RFP’s requirements; failed to conduct a reasonable price realism analysis of Agovx’s proposal; and improperly evaluated Agovx’s proposal under the past performance factor.

We deny the protest.