GovTranz, LLC (B-423249)

You should not care.

Category: Noncompliant pricing, clarifications, SBA certificate of competency

Date: 25 March 2025

URL: https://www.gao.gov/products/b-423249

GovTranz, LLC, protested VA’s rejection of its proposal under an RFP for ground wheelchair transportation services in Atlanta, arguing that it was improperly excluded for omitting prices for added-wait-time CLINs. The protester claimed the CLINs were optional, and that VA should have either inferred a $0 charge or sought clarification. GovTranz also argued that rejection for this reason required referral to the SBA for a certificate of competency.

GAO found VA properly rejected GovTranz’s proposal as noncompliant because the firm failed to price mandatory line items explicitly added in a solicitation amendment. Despite GovTranz’s argument that omitting CLINs should have been interpreted as declining to charge for wait time, GAO held that offerors must clearly communicate such intent—especially where the solicitation warned that failure to submit all documentation would result in rejection.

GAO further rejected the protester’s claim that VA should have conducted clarifications, finding that GovTranz’s omission could not be resolved without materially revising its proposal, which is not permitted through clarifications.

Finally, GAO rejected GovTranz’s contention that its rejection constituted a responsibility determination requiring referral to SBA for a certificate of competency. GAO reiterated that failure to submit required information is not a responsibility matter.

Protest denied.

Digest

1. Protester challenging the agency’s rejection of its proposal is denied where the protester failed to include information in its proposal required by the solicitation and where the agency’s evaluation was reasonable and consistent with the solicitation.
2. Protest challenging the agency’s failure to engage in clarifications and resulting rejection of protester’s proposal is denied where the agency did not have a duty to engage in clarifications.
3. Protest alleging that the agency was required to refer the protester to the Small Business Administration for a certificate of competency is denied where the agency rejected the protester’s proposal for failure to submit required information, which did not constitute a responsibility type determination.