GAO orders ODNI to reevaluate finmgt contract amid Guidehouse protest

GAO has instructed the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) to reevaluate proposals for financial advisory services following a protest by Guidehouse, as tipped by NextGov. The contract, aimed at improving financial management across the intelligence community, was initially awarded to KPMG. Guidehouse’s protest highlighted inconsistencies in the evaluation process, particularly around staffing plans and how KPMG’s and Guidehouse’s proposals were rated.

KPMG’s proposal received higher ratings despite a $53 million price tag, compared to Guidehouse’s $29.4 million bid. GAO found that ODNI’s evaluation was inconsistent with the solicitation, particularly in how the program manager was assessed and in documentation issues. While GAO is not requiring a new solicitation, it mandates ODNI to reevaluate the proposals and make a new award decision, which could take months. In the meantime, Leidos receives a $1.4 billion extension.