Reports News from the GAO http://www.gao.gov/legal/ Thu, 20 Jun 2013 07:35:20 -0400 GAO /images/gao_logo_rss.gif http://www.gao.gov/ Feed provided by GAO. Click to visit. http://www.gao.gov/products/B-408099,B-408099.2,B-408100?source=ra IN2 LLC, of Sterling, Virginia, protests the Department of the Army's award of contracts to Choctaw Contracting Services, of San Antonio, Texas, under request for proposals No. W91247-12-R-0037 (RFP -0037) for family readiness program support services, and under request for proposals No. W91247-12-R-0042 (RFP -0042), for the staffing and operation of Army Strong Community Centers for the Army Reserve Family Programs Directorate. IN2 challenges the evaluation of its technical proposals as unacceptable.We deny the protests. Wed, 19 Jun 2013 13:00:00 -0400 http://www.gao.gov/products/B-408033.2?source=ra ORBIS, Inc., of Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, protests the award of a contract to AMSEC, LLC, of Virginia Beach, Virginia, under request for proposals (RFP) No. N00189-13-R-0005, issued by the Department of the Navy, Naval Supply Systems Command, for information management technology (IMT) support services. ORBIS challenges the agency's technical and past performance evaluations, and selection decision.We deny the protest. Wed, 19 Jun 2013 13:00:00 -0400 http://www.gao.gov/products/B-400325.10?source=ra East West, Inc., of Falls Church, Virginia, protests the exclusion of its proposal from the competitive range under request for proposals (RFP) No. 263-2008-P(GG)-0238, issued by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for custodial services at NIH buildings located in Bethesda, Rockville, and Poolesville, Maryland. The protester argues that the evaluation of its proposal was unreasonable.We deny the protest. Wed, 19 Jun 2013 13:00:00 -0400 http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-13-701R?source=ra GAO reviewed the Commodity Futures Trading Commission's (Commission) final rule on Core Principles and Other Requirements for Swap Execution Facilities. GAO found that (1) the final rule implements certain statutory provisions enacted by Title VII of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (Dodd-Frank Act). The final rules, guidance, and acceptable practices, which apply to the registration and operation of a new type of regulated entity named a swap execution facility (SEF), implement the Dodd-Frank Act's new statutory framework that, among other requirements, adds a new section 5h to the Commodity Exchange Act (CEA or Act) concerning the registration and operation of SEFs, and adds a new section 2(h)(8) to the CEA concerning the execution of swaps on SEFs; and (2) the Commission complied with applicable requirements in promulgating the rule. Mon, 17 Jun 2013 13:00:00 -0400 http://www.gao.gov/products/B-407998.2,B-407998.4?source=ra Walsh-Vaughn Joint Venture, of Chicago, Illinois, protests the rejection of its proposal and the award of a contract to Clark-McCarthy Healthcare Partners II, JV, of Dallas, Texas, under request for proposals (RFP) No. W912G-12-R-0054, issued by the Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers, for the design and construction of a hospital and related buildings at Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas. Walsh-Vaughn challenges the agency's evaluation of its proposal and the adequacy of discussions.We deny the protest. Mon, 17 Jun 2013 13:00:00 -0400 http://www.gao.gov/products/B-407998?source=ra Turner-Southland-Dean Joint Venture, of Washington, D.C., protests the award of a contract to Clark-McCarthy Healthcare Partners II, JV, of Dallas, Texas, under request for proposals (RFP) No. W9126G-12-R-0054, issued by the Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers, for the design and construction of a hospital and related buildings at Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas. Turner challenges the agency's evaluation of its proposal and selection decision.We deny the protest. Mon, 17 Jun 2013 13:00:00 -0400 http://www.gao.gov/products/B-407073.3,B-407073.4,B-407073.5,B-407073.6?source=ra IBM U.S. Federal (IBM), of Bethesda, Maryland, protests the Central Intelligence Agency's (CIA) award of a contract to Amazon Web Services, Inc., of Seattle, Washington, under request for proposals (RFP) No. 2012-12041000001, for commercial cloud services (C2S). IBM challenges the evaluation of proposals and the selection decision.We sustain the protest in part and deny it in part. Fri, 14 Jun 2013 13:00:00 -0400 http://www.gao.gov/products/B-407020?source=ra Blue Ridge Limousine and Tour Service, Inc., of Springfield, Virginia, protests the terms of solicitation No. W9133L-12-R-0048 for shuttle bus services in the Arlington, Virginia area, issued by the National Guard Bureau (NGB). Blue Ridge argues that the solicitation was improperly set-aside as an 8(a) competition.We deny the protest. Fri, 14 Jun 2013 13:00:00 -0400 http://www.gao.gov/products/B-406730?source=ra Alpha-Omega Change Engineering, Inc. (AOCE), of Hampton, Virginia, protests the rejection of its proposal and the award of contracts to Intecon, LLC, of Colorado Springs, Colorado, and S4, Inc., of Arlington, Virginia, under request for proposals (RFP) No. FA2517-09-R-6032, issued by the Department of the Air Force for support services involving classified subject matter expertise and the comprehensive capability to plan and execute activities in support of Headquarters for the North American Aerospace Defense (NORAD) Command and Headquarters for the United States Northern Command (USNORTHCOM).We deny the protest. Fri, 14 Jun 2013 13:00:00 -0400 http://www.gao.gov/products/B-407998.3?source=ra Hensel Phelps Construction Company, of Austin, Texas, protests the award of a contract to Clark-McCarthy Healthcare Partners II, JV, of Dallas, Texas, under request for proposals (RFP) No. W9126G-12-R-0054, issued by the Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers, for the design and construction of a hospital and related buildings at Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas. Hensel challenges the agency's evaluation of its proposal, and the selection decision.We deny the protest. Thu, 13 Jun 2013 13:00:00 -0400 http://www.gao.gov/products/B-408046,B-408046.2?source=ra NOVA Corporation, of Albuquerque, New Mexico, protests the award of a task order to Digital Management, Inc., (DMI) of Bethesda, Maryland, by the Department of Defense, Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA), under request for proposals (RFP) No. EG0330.00 for operations and information technology support services for the Theater Enterprise Computing Center--Central Region in Juffair, Bahrain. NOVA challenges the agency's evaluation of the offerors' proposals and award decision.We sustain the protest. Wed, 12 Jun 2013 13:00:00 -0400 http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-13-677R?source=ra GAO reviewed the Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Marketing Service's (AMS) new rule on mandatory country of origin labeling. GAO found that (1) the final rule amends the Country of Origin Labeling regulations to change the labeling provisions for muscle cut covered commodities to provide consumers with more specific information and amends the definition for "retailer" to include any person subject to be licensed as a retailer under the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act; and (2) the AMS complied with the applicable requirements in promulgating the rule. Mon, 10 Jun 2013 13:00:00 -0400 http://www.gao.gov/products/B-324588?source=ra The Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) may use appropriated funds to purchase and give currency readers to blind and visually impaired individuals as part of its compliance with a federal district court order to provide such individuals with meaningful access to U.S. currency. BEP’s proposed approach is reasonable and consistent with BEP’s statutory mission. BEP’s distribution of currency readers serves to achieve BEP’s objective of providing immediate relief to blind and visually impaired individuals as BEP continues its efforts with regard to multiple accommodations, including the addition of tactile features, large high-contrast numerals, and different colors to each denomination of U.S. currency that it is permitted to alter. Mon, 10 Jun 2013 13:00:00 -0400 http://www.gao.gov/products/B-408065,B-408065.2?source=ra Cornische Aviation & Maintenance, Ltd., of the United Arab Emirates, protests the issuance of order No. 0183 to Science and Engineering Services, Inc. (SES), of Huntsville, Alabama, by the Department of the Army for the overhaul of Mi-17 aircraft. The order was issued under an Army contract (No. W58RGZ-09-D-0130), which Cornische held for the performance of various support services.We deny the protest. Mon, 10 Jun 2013 13:00:00 -0400 http://www.gao.gov/products/B-408319?source=ra David Frankel, of Los Gatos, California, protests the results of a prize contest conducted by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) for a technological solution to the problem of automated "robocalls." The protester argues that the agency failed to evaluate his entry in accordance with the rules established for the contest.We dismiss the protest. Mon, 10 Jun 2013 13:00:00 -0400 http://www.gao.gov/products/B-407078.2,B-407078.3,B-407078.4?source=ra Marcola Meadows VA LLC, of Mandan, North Dakota, protests the award of a lease to Moreland Corporation, doing business as VA Oregon 1, LLC, of Bakersfield, California, by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) under solicitation for offers (SFO) No. VA-101-11-RP-0136, for the construction and lease of a VA outpatient medical clinic in Eugene or Springfield, Oregon. Marcola Meadows primarily argues that the VA unreasonably found that Moreland's proposed lease was an "operating lease," improperly evaluated Moreland's proposal, and made a mechanical source selection decision.We deny the protest. Mon, 10 Jun 2013 13:00:00 -0400 http://www.gao.gov/products/B-408018.2,B-408018.3?source=ra Herman Construction Group, Inc., of San Diego, California, protests the rejection of its proposal under request for proposals (RFP) No. HSBP1013R0017 issued by the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, for comprehensive tactical infrastructure maintenance and repair services. The protester contends that the agency improperly rejected its proposal for failure to comply with the solicitation's proposal submission requirements.We deny the protest. Mon, 10 Jun 2013 13:00:00 -0400 http://www.gao.gov/products/B-408025?source=ra Gordon and Soraya Diase Coffelt, of St. Thomas, United States Virgin Islands, protest the evaluation of their offer in response to solicitation for offers (SFO) No. 8VI2008 issued by the General Services Administration (GSA) for the lease of office space in St. Thomas for the District of the Virgin Islands Federal Public Defender (FPD). The Coffelts also protest GSA's subsequent decision to cancel the solicitation.We deny the protest. Mon, 10 Jun 2013 13:00:00 -0400 http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-13-671R?source=ra GAO reviewed the Department of Health and Human Services' (HHS) new rule on the Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan. GAO found that (1) the final rule with comment period sets the payment rates for covered services furnished to individuals enrolled in the Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan (PCIP) program administered directly by HHS beginning with covered services furnished on June 15, 2013; and (2) HHS complied with the applicable requirements in promulgating the rule. Thu, 06 Jun 2013 13:00:00 -0400 http://www.gao.gov/products/B-408012,B-408012.2?source=ra Cantu Services, Inc., of Wichita Falls, Texas, protests the award of a contract to the South Carolina Commission for the Blind, of Columbia, South Carolina, a state licensing agency for the blind (SLA), under request for proposals (RFP) No. W9124C-12-R-0011, issued by the Department of the Army for food services at Fort Jackson, South Carolina. Cantu argues that award to the SLA was improper because its price was not reasonable. Cantu also argues that the agency wrongly evaluated its proposal as technically unacceptable based on a mechanical application of an undisclosed and unreasonable staffing estimate.We deny the protest. Thu, 06 Jun 2013 13:00:00 -0400 http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-13-672R?source=ra GAO reviewed the Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services' (CMS) new rule on the Medicare Program, medical loss ratio requirements for the Medicare Advantage and the Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit programs. GAO found that (1) the final rule for the Medicare Advantage (Part C) and prescription drug (Part D) programs make changes as required by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Pub. L. No. 111-148), as amended by the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act (Pub. L. No. 111-152) (Reconciliation Act), also known collectively as the Affordable Care Act; and (2) CMS complied with applicable requirements in promulgating the rule. Wed, 05 Jun 2013 13:00:00 -0400 http://www.gao.gov/products/B-407111.5,B-407111.6,B-407111.7?source=ra Exelis Systems Corporation, of Colorado Springs, Colorado, protests the award of a contract to PAE Government Services, Inc., of Arlington, Virginia, under request for proposals (RFP) No. SAQMMA-12-R-0012, issued by the Department of State (DOS) for operations and maintenance support services (OMSS) for agency facilities in Iraq, including the Baghdad Embassy Compound (BEC). Exelis maintains that the agency misevaluated proposals and made an unreasonable source selection decision.We sustain the protest in part and deny it in part. Tue, 04 Jun 2013 13:00:00 -0400 http://www.gao.gov/products/B-408084?source=ra Advanced Computer Concepts, of McLean, Virginia, protests the issuance of a delivery order to Futron, Inc., of Woodbridge, Virginia, under request for quotations (RFQ) No. 761233, issued by the General Services Administration, for Cisco TelePresence EX90 Series Systems and related items. Advanced Computer challenges the agency's evaluation of the firm's past performance.We deny the protest. Thu, 30 May 2013 13:00:00 -0400 http://www.gao.gov/products/B-407706.3?source=ra McConnell, Jones, Lanier & Murphy LLC (MJLM), of Houston, Texas, requests that our Office recommend that it be reimbursed the costs of filing and pursuing its protest against the award of a contract by the Department of Labor under solicitation No. 11-JC-REG2-WOOD for operation of the Woodland Job Corps Center in Anne Arundel County, Maryland.We deny the request. Wed, 29 May 2013 13:00:00 -0400 http://www.gao.gov/products/B-405007.17?source=ra WingGate Travel, Inc., of Overland Park, Kansas, requests that we reconsider our decision in WingGate Travel, Inc., B-405007.14, April 12, 2013, 2013 CPD para. 101, denying the firm's protest of the award of a contract to Semont Travel, doing business as Travco, of Great Falls, Montana, under request for proposals (RFP) No. H98210-10-R-0006, issued by the Department of Defense (DOD), Defense Human Resources Activity, for travel management services in support of the Defense Travel Management Office.We deny the request. Fri, 24 May 2013 13:00:00 -0400