TrillaMed, LLC (B-423042; B-423042.2)

You should not care.

Category: Technical evaluation, cost or price evaluation, process issue

Date: 8 January 2025

URL: https://www.gao.gov/products/b-423042%2Cb-423042.2

TrillaMed, LLC, protested the VA's award of a contract to Lovell Government Services, Inc., for cordless surgical bone saws. TrillaMed challenged VA's evaluation of proposals, arguing that the government misevaluated technical aspects, improperly considered the awardee’s products as equal, and made an unreasonable best value tradeoff. GAO found the evaluation was reasonable and in accordance with the solicitation criteria and dismissed the protest:

• Technical evaluation: The VA determined that Lovell’s proposed CONMED products met all salient characteristics, while TrillaMed’s Stryker products offered several advantages (eg, wireless charging, lower operating temperatures, and superior warranty). However, these advantages did not outweigh the price difference.
• Warranty requirement: GAO found VA reasonably concluded that Lovell's products met the manufacturer’s warranty requirement.
• Best value tradeoff: The contracting officer determined that TrillaMed's technical advantages did not justify the higher evaluated price, making Lovell’s lower-priced offer the best value.

Digest

Protest that agency misevaluated quotations and made an unreasonable source selection decision is denied where the record shows the evaluation, conducted under simplified acquisition procedures, was reasonable and consistent with the terms of the solicitation and the source selection decision documented a reasonable price-technical tradeoff in favor of awardee’s lower-rated technical quotation and lower price.