Science and Technology Corporation (B-422601)

Category: Technical and cost evaluations, past performance, discussions, process issue

Date: August 23, 2024

URL: https://www.gao.gov/products/b-422601

You should not care.

Science and Technology Corporation (STC), a small business in Hampton, VA, protested NASA's contract award for aircraft and spaceflight systems engineering support to Analytical Mechanics Associates (AMA). STC alleged that NASA’s evaluation under the mission suitability, past performance, and cost factors was unreasonable, that the agency failed to conduct meaningful discussions, and that the final best-value tradeoff decision was flawed.

GAO found that NASA had reasonably evaluated technical proposals in line with solicitation criteria, noted that technical judgments were adequately supported, and upheld NASA’s choice to adjust STC’s cost proposal based on disclosed cost realism standards. GAO dismissed STC’s claims about lack of discussions, as NASA was permitted to make the award without discussions per solicitation terms.

The protest was denied

Digest

Protest challenging the agency’s evaluation of proposals is denied where the evaluation was reasonable and in accordance with the terms of the solicitation.