The Government Accountability Office (GAO) on Tuesday denied General Dynamics’ [GD] protest of the Marine Corps’ contract award to SAIC [SAIC] for the Amphibious Combat Vehicle (ACV).
General Dynamics challenged, among other things, the Marine Corps’ evaluation of its proposal and the agency’s decision to select SAIC’s higher-rated, higher-priced proposal in a best-value procurement. General Dynamics’ proposal was lower-rated and lower-priced.
GAO concluded that that the Marine Corps’ evaluation of the General Dynamics proposal was reasonable and consistent with the evaluation scheme identified in the solicitation. GAO also concluded that the decision to select SAIC’s higher-rated, but higher-priced, proposal was within the agency’s discretion when conducting a best value procurement.
SAIC’s award is the first phase of a two-step procurement. The total value of the contract, with all options exercised, is approximately $1.2 billion. Marine Corps spokesman Manny Pacheco said Tuesday he would not know until at least Wednesday whether the service lifted a stop work order. SAIC spokeswoman Lauren Presti said the company was under a stop work order, but she said late Tuesday she didn’t know if it had been lifted.
A protective order has been issued for GAO’s decision. It expects to publish a public decision, but it might take a few weeks.