The solicitation also provided an "overarching evaluation approach for all factors and subfactors" that anticipated the evaluation of both the adequacy of each offeror's response and the feasibility of the proposed approach. With regard to the staffing plan requirement, the RFTOP instructed offerors to provide a staffing plan that included a staffing requirement analysis, a recruitment plan, a plan for acquiring and managing required canines, a candidate screening plan, and a retention plan. With regard to the fixed-price line items, the RFTOP contemplated that each offeror's overall total fixed price would be evaluated for fairness and reasonableness. Regarding price, the solicitation contained both fixed-price and cost-reimbursable line items, but stated that the cost-reimbursable items would not be evaluated for purposes of award. When combined, the non-price factors were to be significantly more important than price. The first three subfactors were to be "of equal level of importance, but significantly higher than 4, 5, 6, and 7." Id. The RFTOP provided for the evaluation of proposals under seven technical subfactors: (1) staffing plan, (2) mobilization and transition plan, (3) training management plan, (4) logistics and property management and accountability plan, (5) key personnel, (6) management approach, and (7) risk management plan. Such services include personal protection, static guards, and emergency response teams used to ensure the life, safety, and security of chief of mission personnel and facilities at the BDSC. Contracting Officer's Statement (COS) at 1. The solicitation, which was issued on June 16, 2016, contemplated the issuance of a task order under DOS's worldwide protective services II (WPS II) indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract for a broad range of security services at the BDSC. Janus challenges DOS's evaluation of Janus' staffing plan and the agency's best-value tradeoff determination. SAQMMA16R0643, issued by the Department of State (DOS) for security services at the Baghdad Diplomatic Support Center (BDSC) in Iraq. Janus Global Operations, LLC, of Lenoir City, Tennessee, protests the issuance of a task order to SOC LLC, of Chantilly, Virginia, under request for task order proposals (RFTOP) No. Protest alleging that agency's best-value tradeoff determination failed to meaningfully consider whether the advantages of the protester's proposal were worth its higher price is denied where the agency reasonably concluded that the protester's proposal did not provide the agency with technical advantages worth the payment of a price premium. Protest alleging that agency unreasonably failed to recognize several positive aspects of protester's proposal as strengths is denied where protester fails to demonstrate that the agency's evaluation was unreasonable.Ģ. Westfall-McGrail, Esq., Office of the General Counsel, GAO, participated in the preparation of the decision.ġ. Martin, Esq., Department of State, for the agency.Īlexander O. Anstett, Esq., and Anayansi Rodriguez, Esq., Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP, for SOC LLC, the intervenor. Stamp, Esq., ProTorae Law PLLC, for the protester.