OReady, LLC (B-422910.2)

You should not care.

Category: Simplified acquisition procedures, compliance, quality-control plan

Date: 18 June 2025

URL: https://www.gao.gov/products/b-422910.2

OReady, LLC, a woman-owned small business from Las Vegas, protested NOAA’s award of a contract to ULU Hi-Tech, Inc., under RFQ No. 1305M324Q0286 for Linux system support services. The protest was based on the claim that NOAA improperly excluded OReady from the competition for failing to meet the solicitation's technical requirements, specifically regarding the inclusion of a draft quality control plan (QCP).

GAO found that OReady's quotation did not include the required draft QCP, and that NOAA was under no obligation to seek clarifications from the protester regarding this omission. Additionally, GAO noted that under the simplified acquisition procedures used, the agency had broad discretion in evaluating quotations without needing to engage in discussions with vendors. The protest was denied, as the GAO upheld the agency’s conclusion that OReady's quotation was technically unacceptable due to the lack of a draft QCP.

Digest

1. Protest challenging agency’s technical evaluation of protester’s quotation is denied where evaluation was reasonable and consistent with the terms of the solicitation.
2. Protest alleging that agency was required to seek clarifications before finding protester’s quotation to be unacceptable is denied where agency was under no obligation to do so.