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GAO dismisses protest of smart card contract to GD

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has rejected a protest lodged last January by a small security systems supplier against the award of a contract by the Government Printing Office to General Dynamics Information Technology, Inc. to install equipment that can issue smart card identification credentials.

The GAO dismissed arguments presented by Evans Security Solutions, Inc., of Sumter, SC, that the Government Printing Office should have given Evans and GD comparable technical scores because both companies offered the same equipment. The GAO also rejected, as untimely, Evans Security’s argument that the Government Printing Office didn’t take steps to make the solicitation requirements sufficiently favorable to small businesses.

The GAO’s decision noted that the procuring agency received proposals from Evans, GD and one other contender. Evans’ proposal was rated "marginal for timeliness of delivery, unsatisfactory for experience, and marginal for technical approach, with one strength, five weaknesses, and two deficiencies," said the GAO’s decision, which was issued March 19.

GD and the third candidate each submitted proposals that were rated higher technically, and cost less than the Evans proposal, said the decision, signed by the GAO’s general counsel, Gary Kepplinger.

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