B-229636.3, Mar 28, 1988, 88-1 CPD 313

B-229636.3, Mar 28, 1988, 88-1 CPD 313

PROCUREMENT - Specifications - Performance Specifications - Adequacy DIGEST: Protest that specifications in request for proposals do not adequately describe dining facility in which food services are to be performed is denied where information necessary for the protester to determine the facility's layout and furnishings is otherwise made available to it.

Ramirez Enterprises:

Ramirez Enterprises protests the specifications in request for proposals (RFP) No. F41650-87-R-0373, issued by the Air Force for food services for two dining halls and the flight kitchen at Kelly Air Force Base, Texas. We deny the protest.

The RFP requested offers for full food services, which encompassed such tasks as planning menus, requisitioning food, preparing and serving meals, cleaning the premises, and maintaining the food service equipment. The solicitation provided for a site visit in conjunction with the preproposal conference to allow offerors to inspect the premises; one of the dining halls was undergoing renovation at the time, however, and therefore offerors were unable to view that facility in a completed state.

In its letter of protest, Ramirez argued that it was unable to prepare its offer for the services since the specifications did not describe the facility and it was impossible for offerors to ascertain that information for themselves through inspection of the premises due to the ongoing renovations. Specifically, Ramirez objected to the lack of information regarding serving line configurations and the location of the dishwasher and holding area, which, according to the protester, left offerors unable to determine the number of personnel that would be required to serve the food and clear the tables. The protester also complained that offerors had not been provided with sufficient information as to the type of floor covering tables and chairs, partitions, and wall coverings to permit an accurate assessment of cleaning costs.

In response to Ramirez's protest, the agency provided the firm's president with a second site visit, at which he was shown blueprints of the renovated facility, identifying the serving line configurations and the location of the dishwasher and holding area. The agency official conducting the tour also pointed out the location of these areas in the facility. The areas that would be tiled and those that would be carpeted were identified, and samples of both the tile and the carpet were made available to the protester for inspection. In addition, samples of the new furniture, partitions, and wall coverings were made available for inspection.

Ramirez submitted a timely proposal. The agency reports that a total of six proposals were received which are currently under evaluation.

A protester challenging the adequacy of the specifications in an RFP must demonstrate that the solicitation lacked sufficient clarity to permit competition on an intelligent and equal basis. Aleman Food Service, Inc., B-219415, Aug. 29, 1985, 85-2 CPD Para. 249. In our view, Ramirez has failed to make such a showing. The Air Force responded to the protester's complaint that the specifications were not sufficiently descriptive by allowing it to examine the blueprints of the renovated facility and samples of the furnishings. Ramirez has offered no explanation as to why the information provided did not satisfy its needs. In fact, the protester has not bothered to respond at all to the agency report except to state that it wishes the protest considered on the record. Since the protester was able to submit a timely proposal and it has not specifically objected to the agency's actions in attempting to remedy the alleged solicitation deficiencies, we have no basis to object to the agency's actions here.

The protest is denied.