ManTech International Corp. [MANT] is preparing to begin work on a 10-year, $816 million deal from the State Department to provide technology security services for diplomatic missions following an unsuccessful protest from the award’s incumbent.
The contract, announced Monday and initially awarded in May, tasks Mantech with providing classified active monitoring tools to assist the department’s Diplomatic Security office with reducing the risk of growing cyber threats.
“This is about protecting lives. We are eager to support the Office of Security Technology in order to meet the needs of Diplomatic Security and protect personnel life safety and security while keeping pace with new and evolving threats,” Daniel Keefe, president and COO of ManTech’s mission & solutions services group, said in a statement.
The deal was subject to two protests after a request for proposals was initially issued in July 2016.
Contract incumbent Olgoonik Global Security, LLC (OGS) received an initial award in September 2016, which ManTech protested. The State Department then terminated that deal and re-opened discussions with both companies.
After receiving a second round of final proposals, the contract was offered in May of this year to ManTech, whose cost valuation was for the work was $8 million less than OGS.
ManTech’s proposal also offered higher relative technical value and lower risks, according to the Government Accountability Office’s (GAO) report on the protest.
OGS then filed a protest of the final award in June, arguing that the State Department failed to consider a trade-off analysis and believed they provided a better transition and employee retention plan than ManTech.
The GAO ultimately denied the protest in September.
ManTech has worked with the State Department providing technological support services in various capacities for more than 20 years, according to company spokesman James Crawford.
“ManTech’s solutions will not only help safeguard Foreign Services personnel but protect classified information, as well,” said Crawford told Defense Daily.