B-222249.2, SEP 25, 1986

B-222249.2, SEP 25, 1986

PRECIS-UNAVAILABLE

THE HONORABLE JIM BATES:

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

THIS RESPONDS TO YOUR LETTER DATED AUGUST 5, 1986, CONCERNING THE DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY'S ANNOUNCEMENT IN THE COMMERCE BUSINESS DAILY (CBD) OF ITS INTENTION TO PURCHASE MAINTENANCE SERVICES FOR CERTAIN AUTOMATED DATA PROCESSING EQUIPMENT AT THE NAVAL SUPPLY CENTER, SAN DIEGO, FOR THE REMAINDER OF FISCAL YEAR 1986 AND POSSIBLY FOR FISCAL YEAR 1987. THE CONTRACT FOR THESE MAINTENANCE SERVICES WAS THE SUBJECT OF A BID PROTEST FILED BY FEDERAL SERVICES GROUP AND SUSTAINED BY OUR OFFICE ON JUNE 19, 1986. (B-222249, 65 COMP.GEN. ***, 86-1 CPD PARA. 566.) IN THAT DECISION, WE HELD THAT THE NAVY'S ORIGINAL SYNOPSIS FOR THESE SERVICES DID NOT ACCURATELY SET FORTH THE NAVAL SUPPLY CENTER'S ACTUAL MAINTENANCE SERVICES NEEDS BECAUSE THE NAVY'S RESPONSE TIME FOR REPAIRS HAD NOT BEEN STATED IN THE CBD AS REQUIRED BY PERTINENT REGULATIONS. THEREFORE, WE RECOMMENDED THAT THE NAVY RESYNOPSIZE ITS REQUIREMENTS FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE CURRENT CONTRACT PERIOD AS WELL AS FOR ANY FORESEEABLE FOLLOW-ON CONTRACT PERIOD.

EVEN THOUGH THE NAVY RESYNOPSIZED ITS AUTOMATED DATA PROCESSING MAINTENANCE SERVICES NEEDS IN THE CBD ON JULY 17, 1986, THE NAVY HAS RECENTLY INFORMED OUR OFFICE THAT IT NO LONGER INTENDS TO AWARD A CONTRACT FOR THESE SERVICES IN FISCAL YEAR 1987. ACCORDING TO THE NAVY, THE SUBJECT AUTOMATED DATA PROCESSING EQUIPMENT IS USED IN TWO SEPARATE PROGRAMMING FACILITIES IN SUPPORT OF E-2B AND E-2C AIRBORNE EARLY WARNING AIRCRAFT. THE NAVY REPORTS THAT THE E-2B PROGRAMMING FACILITY IS PRESENTLY BEING PHASED OUT AND THAT IT HAS ALREADY PURCHASED "NONCOMMERCIAL SPECIAL PURPOSE TYPE" COMPUTER EQUIPMENT WHICH WILL REPLACE THE IBM EQUIPMENT PRESENTLY IN PLACE AT THE E-2C PROGRAMMING FACILITY. THE NAVY HAS DETERMINED THAT IT WILL NO LONGER REQUIRE MAINTENANCE SERVICES ONCE THE NEW COMPUTER EQUIPMENT HAS BEEN INSTALLED. THE NAVY HAS ALSO DETERMINED THAT IT WILL NOT BE COST EFFECTIVE TO CONTRACT FOR MAINTENANCE SERVICES FOR THE PERIOD FROM THE END OF THE CURRENT CONTRACT (SEPTEMBER 30, 1986) UNTIL REPLACEMENT OF THE EQUIPMENT (ABOUT JANUARY 1987). OUR OFFICE HAS NO BASIS TO CHALLENGE EITHER OF THESE PROCUREMENT DECISIONS.

IN VIEW OF THESE CHANGES IN THE NAVY'S FISCAL YEAR 1987 REQUIREMENTS, AND BECAUSE FISCAL YEAR 1986 AND THE NAVY'S PRESENT CONTRACT WITH INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION WILL EXPIRE AT THE END OF THIS MONTH, OUR ORIGINAL RECOMMENDATION THAT THE NAVY RESYNOPSIZE ITS MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENTS WITH A VIEW TOWARD A POSSIBLE NEW AWARD IS NO LONGER PRACTICAL. ACCORDINGLY, THE ISSUES RAISED BY YOUR CONSTITUENT HAVE NOW BECOME ACADEMIC.