GAO dismisses Meadowgate’s protest of computer equipment contract by TSA

Meadowgate Technologies, LLC, of Trenton, NJ, tried to sell desktop and tablet computers to TSA, but was beaten by a competitor, NCS Technologies Incorporated, of Gainesville, VA. After Meadowgate protested TSA’s award to its rival, arguing that the agency’s evaluation of NCS’s past performance was improper, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) reviewed the matter and ultimately threw out Meadowgate’s protest.

TSA’s original RFP attracted 14 proposals to supply computer equipment in six different specified categories.

Meadowgate’s proposed price was less expensive than NCS’s for tablets, but more expensive than NCS’s proposed price for desktop computers.

The GAO weighed Meadowgate’s arguments, but ultimately didn’t agree.

“The record here does not support Meadowgate’s contention that the agency’s decision was inconsistent with the solicitation’s best value award scheme and failed to adequately consider the technical merit of the protester’s proposal,” concluded the GAO, in a decision document that was signed on Jan. 17.