Link: GAO Opinion
Agency: Department of Veterans Affairs
Disposition: Protest denied.
General Counsel P.C. Highlight:
GAO denied the protest of Kingdomware Technologies, a service-disabled veteran-owned small business (SDVOSB), based on the issuance of a sole source purchase order by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to LiveProcess Corporation, for emergency communication management software for VA’s Medical Centers (VAMCs) in the Southern Tier of the Veterans Integrated Services Network (VISN) 12.
The RFQ was issued for emergency communication management software for the FHCC in Chicago, IL. The RFQ was issued on a brand name or equal basis, but the solicitation did not state any characteristics for equal products to meet. Kingdomware provided its proposal, but was turned down because they did not use the brand name software.
Kingdomware challenged the reasonableness of the agency’s limited request for a specific brand of software. GAO found the agency’s limited source justification to be reasonable. The record contained evidence that the VA needed specific software that would perform required functions and is compatible with the system already in place.