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Protest of Navy Contract Award

B-200140 Jun 08, 1981
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Highlights

A college protested the award of a contract by the Department of the Navy for the teaching of "basic educational skills" courses. The Department of Defense (DOD) has set forth in a DOD Directive guidelines for educational programs which provide that the various military departments shall establish educational programs to provide oportunities for military personnel to achieve educational, vocational, and career goals. The Directive establishes minimum criteria in selecting postsecondary civilian educational institutions to provide these programs. The protester argued that the Navy should not, as a general principle, specify requirements for courses other than those set forth in the Directive and Navy Instructions since the protester read the minimum criteria set forth in these documents as the only criteria which may be set forth in solicitations for these educational requirements. A literal reading of these documents does not necessarily support the protester's argument since both documents preface the formal listing of the minimum criteria with the phrase "include the following." In addition, the protester argued that, even if the regional accreditation requirement was not necessarily inconsistent with the Directive and Instructions, the Navy should have accepted the college's national accreditation and other evidence of ability to perform the required services as an acceptable equivalent to that specified by the regional accreditation requirement. GAO has held that an offeror is entitled to have the opportunity to demonstrate a level of achievement equivalent to that specified in a definitive responsibility criterion exemplified by the regional accredation requirement; however, there need not be literal compliance with the specific letter of the criterion. Lastly, as to the suitability of a business college to educate students in general high school studies, the protester noted that it is a four-year, degree-granting institution and that the awardee is a preparatory school. GAO believes that the Navy should have considered the national accreditation and other evidence submitted by the protester as the equivalent of regional accreditation with respect to the services required. GAO questioned the exclusion of the protester from the contract in the absence of a showing that its proposed teachers for the courses were not capable of adequate instruction or that the protester otherwise lacks the necessary capability. Accordingly, the protest was sustained.

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B-200140, JUN 8, 1981

DIGEST: 1. LITERAL INTERPRETATION OF PRESENT WORDING OF DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE DIRECTIVE CONCERNING VOLUNTARY EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS DOES NOT NECESSARILY EXCLUDE POSSIBILITY THAT SERVICE INVOLVED MAY PRESCRIBE CRITERIA FOR SELECTING EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS IN EXCESS OF "MINIMUM CRITERIA" PRESCRIBED IN DIRECTIVE SINCE LISTING OF "MINIMUM CRITERIA" IN DIRECTIVE IS PRECEDED BY PHRASE "INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING" WHICH ADMITS POSSIBILITY THAT OTHER CRITERIA MAY BE SPECIFIED AS APPROPRIATE. 2. REGIONAL ACCREDITATION REQUIREMENT IS DEFINITIVE RESPONSIBILITY CRITERION, COMPLIANCE WITH WHICH IS PREREQUISITE TO CONTRACT AWARD; HOWEVER, THERE NEED NOT BE LITERAL COMPLIANCE WITH CRITERION. 3. EXCLUSION OF BUSINESS COLLEGE, ACCREDITED NATIONALLY BY ASSOCIATION OF INDEPENDENT COLLEGES AND SCHOOLS, FROM CONSIDERATION FOR NAVY BASIC SKILLS COURSES ON BASIS THAT NATIONAL ACCREDITATION IS NOT EQUIVALENT TO SPECIFIED "REGIONAL ACCREDITATION" IS QUESTIONED SINCE: (1) CONTRACT COURSES ARE TO BE GIVEN ON NONCREDIT BASIS; THEREFORE, WIDER OPPORTUNITIES FOR TRANSFERRING CREDIT AMONG REGIONALLY ACCREDITED SCHOOLS IS NOT SOUND REASON TO EXCLUDE NATIONALLY ACCREDITED COLLEGE; (2) BOTH NATIONALLY AND REGIONALLY ACCREDITED SCHOOLS ARE APPARENTLY SUBJECT TO PEER REVIEW; AND (3) EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE AND BACKGROUND OF PROTESTER - INCLUDING RECEIPT OF ARMY CONTRACTS FOR SIMILAR COURSES SUGGESTS PROTESTER HAS SUBMITTED ENOUGH EVIDENCE TO SHOW COMPLIANCE WITH CRITERION.

JOHNSON & WALES COLLEGE:

JOHNSON & WALES COLLEGE (J & W) PROTESTS THE AWARD OF A NAVY CONTRACT TO BELLARMINE PREPARATORY SCHOOL FOR THE TEACHING OF "BASIC EDUCATIONAL SKILLS" COURSES (READING, ENGLISH GRAMMAR, COMPOSITION AND MATHEMATICS) UNDER REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP) NO. N00612-80-R-0282, ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY, NAVAL SUPPLY SYSTEMS COMMAND (NAVY). PARAGRAPH C 300, CONTRACTOR QUALIFICATIONS, REQUIRED THAT THE PROPOSED CONTRACTOR HAVE "ACCREDITATION *** BY A REGIONAL ACCREDITING ASSOCIATION." J & W'S LOW OFFER TO TEACH THE COURSES, WHICH WERE TO BE GIVEN ON A NONCREDIT BASIS, WAS ELIMINATED FROM CONSIDERATION FOR AWARD BECAUSE, ALTHOUGH THE COLLEGE HAS "NATIONAL ACCREDITATION," IT DOES NOT HAVE REGIONAL ACCREDITATION. BASED ON OUR REVIEW, WE SUSTAIN J & W'S PROTEST.

THE BASIC EDUCATIONAL SKILLS PROGRAM, NOW CALLED FUNCTIONAL SKILLS PROGRAM, IS AN ON-DUTY TRAINING PROGRAM. ITS "PRIMARY OBJECTIVE IS TO PROVIDE TRAINING IN FUNCTIONAL SKILLS THAT WILL ENHANCE MILITARY COMPETENCY." THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE (DOD) HAS SET FORTH GUIDELINES FOR EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS WHICH ARE FOUND IN DOD DIRECTIVE 1322.8, DATED FEBRUARY 4, 1980. DOD DIRECTIVE 1322.8 PROVIDES THAT THE VARIOUS MILITARY DEPARTMENTS SHALL ESTABLISH EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS TO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR MILITARY PERSONNEL TO ACHIEVE EDUCATIONAL, VOCATIONAL AND CAREER GOALS. IN ADDITION, IT PROVIDES GUIDELINES FOR VOLUNTARY EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, WHICH INCLUDES BASIC SKILLS AS WELL AS OTHER PROGRAMS. PARAGRAPH "H" OF THE DIRECTIVE ALSO ESTABLISHES "MINIMUM CRITERIA" IN SELECTING "POST SECONDARY CIVILIAN EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS" TO PROVIDE THESE PROGRAMS.

THE NAVY ADMITS THAT J & W MEETS THE STATED MINIMUM CRITERIA - INCLUDING THE CRITERION REQUIRING APPROPRIATE ACCREDITATION BY AN "AGENCY RECOGNIZED BY THE COUNCIL ON POST SECONDARY ACCREDITATION AND THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION" - GIVEN J & W'S ACCREDITATION AS A "SENIOR COLLEGE OF BUSINESS" BY THE ASSOCIATION OF INDEPENDENT COLLEGES AND SCHOOLS (AICS). SIMILARLY THE NAVY ADMITS THAT J & W MEETS THE MINIMUM CRITERIA IN SELECTING CIVILIAN EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS UNDER ITS OWN PERTINENT REGULATION - "OPNAV INSTRUCTION 1500.45 A," AUGUST 15, 1980. NEVERTHELESS, THE NAVY ARGUES THAT IT PROPERLY ESTABLISHED A REQUIREMENT FOR REGIONAL ACCREDITATION FOR THIS PROCUREMENT AND THAT J & W'S NATIONAL ACCREDITATION SIMPLY IS NOT EQUIVALENT TO THE REGIONAL ACCREDITATION REQUIREMENT.

THE NAVY ADVANCES SEVERAL REASONS IN DEFENDING ITS REGIONAL ACCREDITATION REQUIREMENT AND THE REJECTION OF J & W'S LOW OFFER. THESE REASONS ARE BRIEFLY SUMMARIZED AS FOLLOWS:

(1) THE DOD DIRECTIVE AND "OPNAV INSTRUCTION" PROVIDE ONLY MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS; ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS, SUCH AS THE ONE FOR REGIONAL ACCREDITATION, MAY BE SPECIFIED AS APPROPRIATE WITHOUT CONTRADICTING THE DIRECTIVE OR INSTRUCTION;

(2) REGIONAL ACCREDITATION ENSURES "PEER GROUP" EVALUATION;

(3) REGIONAL ACCREDITATION AFFORDS THE POSSIBILITY THAT AN ENLISTEE MAY "APPLY FOR AND RECEIVE CREDIT" FOR ANY COURSES AT THE "HUGE MAJORITY" OF COLLEGES WHICH ARE REGIONALLY ACCREDITED. SUCCESSFUL, THE CREDIT TRANSFER WILL "ALLEVIATE THE NECESSITY OF THE ENLISTEE'S TAKING A FULLY FUNDED (PAID 100 PERCENT BY THE GOVERNMENT) OFF-DUTY HIGH SCHOOL COMPLETION PROGRAM;" MOREOVER, THIS CREDIT POSSIBILITY "SHOULD ENCOURAGE DILIGENT PARTICIPATION IN THE BASIC SKILLS COURSES;"

(4) J & W IS ACCREDITED TO TEACH A "SPECIFIC OCCUPATIONAL SKILL" - BUSINESS; HOWEVER, THE FUNCTIONAL SKILLS PROGRAM IS A "GENERAL STUDIES PROGRAM;"

(5) REGIONAL ACCREDITATION IS DESIRED FOR NAVY BASIC SKILLS PROGRAMS BECAUSE NAVY ENLISTEES ARE "AT LEAST ELEMENTARY SCHOOL GRADUATES, AND HAVE COMPLETED OR HAVE SOME HIGH SCHOOL TRAINING;" BY CONTRAST, THE ARMY, WHICH RECENTLY AWARDED J & W A CONTRACT FOR SIMILAR SERVICES, MAY HAVE ENLISTEES WHO "MAY NOT EVEN BE AT THE 8TH GRADE LEVEL FUNCTIONALLY."

IN SUMMARY OF ITS POSITION, THE NAVY STATES:

"WE HAVE NEVER ARGUED THAT INDIVIDUAL SCHOOLS WHICH HAVE NATIONAL (I.E., SPECIALIZED) ACCREDITATION SUCH AS FROM THE COUNCIL ON POST SECONDARY ACCREDITATION (COPA) ARE NECESSARILY LESS CAPABLE OF PROVIDING THE SERVICES AS STATED IN THE RFP THAN OTHER SCHOOLS. HOWEVER, A DIVERSE NUMBER OF INSTITUTIONS HAVE BEEN ACCREDITED BY THE COPA, INCLUDING 'MATCHBOOK COVER' SCHOOLS WHICH SCHOOLS WOULD NOT PROVIDE THE NAVY WITH THE ASSURANCE THAT ENLISTEES WERE BEING PROVIDED A PROPER EDUCATION."

J & W FIRST ARGUES THAT THE NAVY MAY NOT, AS A GENERAL PRINCIPLE, SPECIFY REQUIREMENTS FOR COURSES OTHER THAN THOSE SET FORTH IN THE ABOVE DIRECTIVE AND NAVY INSTRUCTION SINCE THE COLLEGE READS THE MINIMUM CRITERIA SET FORTH IN THOSE DOCUMENTS AS THE ONLY CRITERIA WHICH MAY BE SET FORTH IN SOLICITATIONS FOR THESE EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS. A LITERAL READING OF THE DOCUMENTS, HOWEVER, DOES NOT NECESSARILY SUPPORT J & W'S ARGUMENT SINCE BOTH DOCUMENTS PREFACE THE FORMAL LISTING OF THE MINIMUM CRITERIA WITH THE PHRASE "INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING." SINCE THIS PHRASE IS USED, IT SEEMS THAT THE DOCUMENTS ADMIT THE POSSIBILITY THAT OTHER MINIMUM CRITERIA - FOR EXAMPLE, REGIONAL ACCREDITATION - MAY BE SPECIFIED IF APPROPRIATE. NEVERTHELESS, AS NOTED BELOW, WE ARE RECOMMENDING THAT THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE REVIEW THE PRESENT WORDING OF THE DIRECTIVE, ESPECIALLY IN VIEW OF SEVERAL PROTESTS WHICH WE HAVE RECEIVED CONCERNING ACCREDITATION.

J & W FURTHER ARGUES THAT, EVEN IF THE REGIONAL ACCREDITATION REQUIREMENT IS NOT NECESSARILY INCONSISTENT WITH THE DIRECTIVE AND INSTRUCTION, THE NAVY SHOULD HAVE ACCEPTED ITS NATIONAL ACCREDITATION AND OTHER EVIDENCE OF ABILITY TO PERFORM THE REQUIRED SERVICES AS AN ACCEPTABLE EQUIVALENT TO THAT SPECIFIED BY THE REGIONAL ACCREDITATION REQUIREMENT.

WE HAVE HELD THAT AN OFFEROR IS ENTITLED TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DEMONSTRATE A LEVEL OF ACHIEVEMENT EQUIVALENT TO THAT SPECIFIED IN A DEFINITIVE RESPONSIBILITY CRITERION EXEMPLIFIED BY THE REGIONAL ACCREDITATION REQUIREMENT HERE; HOWEVER, THERE NEED NOT BE LITERAL COMPLIANCE WITH THE SPECIFIC LETTER OF THE CRITERION. SEE J. BARANELLO & SONS, 58 COMP.GEN. 509 (1979), 79-1 CPD 322.

ON THE KEY POINT OF CREDIT TRANSFER ADVANCED BY THE NAVY, J & W SIMPLY NOTES THAT THE COURSES HERE ARE TO BE GIVEN ON A NONCREDIT BASIS - THAT IS, ONLY A "CERTIFICATE OF COMPLETION/ATTENDANCE"IS TO BE GIVEN. CONSEQUENTLY, J & W ARGUES, THERE CANNOT EVEN EXIST THE POSSIBILITY OF THE TRANSFER OF A CREDIT WHICH IS NOT GIVEN IN THE FIRST PLACE. AS TO PEER REVIEW THE COLLEGE ARGUES THAT NATIONAL ACCREDITATION ALSO INVOLVES PEER GROUP REVIEW BY THE AICS AND THE STATE BOARD OF REGENTS OF RHODE ISLAND WHERE J & W IS CHARTERED. AS TO J & W'S CREDENTIALS IN GENERAL, THE COLLEGE STATES:

"JOHNSON & WALES COLLEGE IS NOT SOME MARGINALLY ACCREDITED, RECENTLY ORGANIZED INSTITUTION FORMED TO CAPTURE A FEW GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS AND THEN COLLAPSE. JOHNSON & WALES COLLEGE WAS FOUNDED IN 1914. THE COLLEGE OFFERS BOTH TWO-YEAR COURSES LEADING TO ASSOCIATES' DEGREES, AND FOUR-YEAR BACHELOR OF SCIENCE PROGRAMS. JOHNSON & WALES IS CHARTERED BY THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND AS A NON-PROFIT DEGREE-GRANTING INSTITUTION OF HIGHER LEARNING. IN ADDITION TO ITS NATIONAL ACCREDITATION BY THE ASSOCIATION OF INDEPENDENT COLLEGES AND SCHOOLS, JOHNSON & WALES IS APPROVED FOR TRAINING BY THE U. S. DEPARTMENT OF IMMIGRATION, THE U. S. VETERAN'S ADMINISTRATION AND IS LISTED IN THE HIGHER EDUCATION DIRECTORIES OF THE U. S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AND THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.

"IN ADDITION TO THE FOREGOING, JOHNSON & WALES HAS SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED A FUNCTIONAL SKILLS EDUCATION PROGRAM (IDENTICAL TO THE PROGRAM INVOLVED HERE) AT FORT DEVENS, MASSACHUSETTS, AND IS THE CURRENT CONTRACTOR NOW PERFORMING AN IDENTICAL PROGRAM AT FT. RUCKER, ALABAMA."

FINALLY, AS TO THE SUITABILITY OF A BUSINESS COLLEGE TO EDUCATE STUDENTS IN GENERAL HIGH SCHOOL STUDIES, J & W SIMPLY NOTES THAT IT IS A "FOUR- YEAR, DEGREE GRANTING COLLEGIATE INSTITUTION" AND THE AWARDEE IS A "PREP SCHOOL."

BEFORE EXAMINING THE PROPRIETY OF THE NAVY'S DECISION TO EXCLUDE J & W, A REVIEW OF TWO RECENT DECISIONS INVOLVING ACCREDITATION IS APPROPRIATE. SCHOOL FOR EDUCATIONAL ENRICHMENT, B-199003, OCTOBER 16, 1980, 80-2 CPD 286, WE DENIED THE PROTEST OF A "NON-ACCREDITED INSTITUTION" AGAINST REGIONAL ACCREDITING REQUIREMENTS INCORPORATED IN SOLICITATIONS ISSUED BY THE "NAVAL SUPPLY CENTER, CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA" AND "FORT CARSON, COLORADO." BOTH SOLICITATIONS APPARENTLY WERE FOR EDUCATIONAL COURSES SIMILAR TO THOSE BEING PROCURED HERE; HOWEVER, THERE IS NO INDICATION WHETHER THE COURSES WERE TO BE GIVEN ON A CREDIT OR A NONCREDIT BASIS. UPHELD THE REQUIREMENT UNDER A RATIONALE WHICH ACCEPTED SIMILAR REASONS ADVANCED BY THE NAVY IN THIS CASE, NAMELY PEER REVIEW AND CREDIT TRANSFER. WE NOTED THE AGENCIES' POSITIONS THAT, "WHILE CERTIFICATION OF INDIVIDUAL INSTRUCTORS HELPS TO ASSURE INDIVIDUAL COMPETENCE, THE AGENCIES FEEL THAT THE EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION PROVIDING THE INSTRUCTORS MUST BE ACCREDITED AS WELL."

IN PIKES PEAK COMMUNITY COLLEGE, B-199102, OCTOBER 17, 1980, 80-2 CPD 293, WE UPHELD THE DECISION OF FORT RUCKER, ALABAMA, TO AWARD A CONTRACT TO J & W FOR EDUCATIONAL COURSES SIMILAR TO THOSE REQUIRED HERE UNDER A SOLICITATION PROVISION WHICH ALSO REQUIRED REGIONAL ACCREDITATION. AS WE STATED IN THE DECISION:

"PIKES PEAK HAS NOT ALLEGED THAT ACCREDITATION BY THE AICS RATHER THAN THE NEW ENGLAND ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES ADVERSELY AFFECTS J & W'S CAPACITY TO PERFORM THE REQUIRED SERVICES. RATHER, PIKES PEAK SIMPLY ASSERTS THAT ACCREDITATION BY A NATIONAL ASSOCIATION DOES NOT COMPLY WITH THE SPECIFIC LETTER OF THE REQUIREMENT THAT THE CONTRACTOR BE ACCREDITED BY AN APPROPRIATE STATE OR REGIONAL ASSOCIATION. THE ARMY FINDS, HOWEVER, THAT ACCREDITATION BY THE AICS IS EQUIVALENT TO ACCREDITATION BY THE NEW ENGLAND ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES FOR PURPOSES OF DEMONSTRATING J & W'S ABILITY AND CAPACITY TO PERFORM. PIKES PEAK HAS PROVIDED NO EVIDENCE TO THE CONTRARY. MOREOVER, WE NOTE THAT AICS IS RECOGNIZED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AS AN ACCREDITING ORGANIZATION FOR 'POST SECONDARY DEGREE AND NON-DEGREE GRANTING INSTITUTIONS THAT ARE PREDOMINANTLY ORGANIZED TO TRAIN STUDENTS FOR BUSINESS CAREERS,' AND THAT THE INSTITUTIONS IT ACCREDITS ARE ELIGIBLE FOR A VARIETY OF FEDERAL PROGRAMS.

44 FED.REG. 4017, 4018 (1979).

SINCE THE CONTRACTOR IS TO PROVIDE INSTRUCTION IN BASIC READING, SPELLING, ARITHMETIC, WRITING, AND SPEAKING AND LISTENING SKILLS (TO 9TH GRADE COMPETENCY LEVELS), WE BELIEVE THE ARMY REASONABLY COULD VIEW THE AICS ACCREDITATION AS THE EQUIVALENT OF OTHER ACCREDITATION WITH RESPECT TO THE SERVICES REQUIRED HERE, AND THUS WE FIND NO BASIS TO DISAGREE WITH THE AGENCY'S RESPONSIBILITY DETERMINATION."

IN COMMENTING ON THE PIKES PEAK COMMUNITY COLLEGE DECISION THE NAVY STATES THAT THE DECISION DOES NOT HOLD "NATIONAL ACCREDITATION TO BE THE EQUIVALENT OF REGIONAL ACCREDITATION; IT ONLY SAYS THAT IT MIGHT BE." FURTHER, THE NAVY NOTES THAT OUR DECISION STATED THAT THE SOLICITATION SHOULD HAVE CLEARLY STATED THAT ACCREDITATION EQUAL TO THAT SPECIFIED WOULD BE CONSIDERED.

WE CAN APPRECIATE THE NAVY'S CONCERN THAT SCHOOLS WHICH, AS A PRACTICAL MATTER, EXIST ONLY ON A "MATCHBOOK COVER" WOULD NOT BE IN A POSITION TO OFFER QUALIFIED INSTRUCTIONAL SERVICES. INDEED, OUR DECISION IN SCHOOL FOR EDUCATIONAL ENRICHMENT FURTHERS THE NOTION THAT A DEFINITIVE RESPONSIBILITY CRITERION INVOLVING ACCREDITATION MAY BE PROPERLY SPECIFIED. AT THE SAME TIME, BY THE NAVY'S OWN ADMISSION THERE ARE INDIVIDUAL SCHOOLS POSSESSING ONLY J & W'S ACCREDITATION, WHICH "ARE NOT NECESSARILY LESS CAPABLE OF PROVIDING THE REQUIRED SERVICES *** THAN OTHER SCHOOLS."

THEREFORE, IT IS CRITICAL, WE THINK, TO EXAMINE THE INDIVIDUAL COURSES AND INSTITUTIONS INVOLVED, AND TO BE WARY OF A REVIEW PROCEDURE WHICH MAY UNINTENTIONALLY ELIMINATE QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONS. HERE, SINCE THE COURSES IN QUESTION ARE GIVEN ON A NONCREDIT BASIS, WE DO NOT UNDERSTAND HOW ANY DEGREE-GRANTING INSTITUTION WOULD AFFORD TRANSFER CREDIT SINCE THE CERTIFICATE OF ATTENDANCE MIGHT ONLY CONVEY MERE ATTENDANCE WITHOUT ANY INCREASE IN SKILL LEVEL OVER THAT PREVAILING WHEN THE STUDENT BEGAN THE COURSE. THEREFORE, THE FACT THAT REGIONALLY ACCREDITED SCHOOLS ARE MORE NUMEROUS AND AFFORD WIDER CREDIT TRANSFER OPPORTUNITIES IS NOT A SOUND REASON FOR EXCLUDING J & W. FURTHER, IN ITS REPORT TO OUR OFFICE THE NAVY HAS ENCLOSED A MEMO WHICH GENERALLY DESCRIBES ACCREDITATION PROCEDURES AND ACCREDITING ORGANIZATIONS. THE DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCREDITING PROCEDURE APPARENTLY COMMON TO BOTH REGIONAL AND NATIONAL ACCREDITING IS SAID TO INVOLVE "PERIODIC REVIEWS TO ASCERTAIN WHETHER ACCREDITED INSTITUTIONS CONTINUE TO MEET THE CRITERIA." THUS, THIS DESCRIPTION TENDS TO CONFIRM J & W'S ASSERTION THAT IT IS ALSO SUBJECT TO PERIODIC PEER REVIEW. THEREFORE, WE DO NOT CONSIDER THAT THE ALLEGED ABSENCE OF PEER REVIEW IS A FACTOR WHICH MAY PROPERLY EXCLUDE J & W. NEITHER DO WE CONSIDER THAT J & W'S STATUS AS A BUSINESS SCHOOL, RATHER THAN A GENERAL STUDIES EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION, SHOULD NECESSARILY EXCLUDE THE COLLEGE SINCE EFFECTIVE TEACHING OF BUSINESS SUBJECTS AT THE COLLEGIATE LEVEL MUST NECESSARILY INVOLVE LANGUAGE AND MATH SKILLS AT A LEVEL HIGHER THAN THAT ASSOCIATED WITH THE HIGH SCHOOL - REMEDIAL LEVEL INVOLVED IN THE NAVY'S COURSES.

FINALLY, FORT RUCKER (AND, ALLEGEDLY, FORT DEVENS) CONSIDERED J & W'S BACKGROUND AND NATIONAL ACCREDITATION TO BE SUCH AS TO BE EQUIVALENT TO A REGIONALLY CERTIFIED INSTITUTION. MOREOVER, IT SEEMS TO US THAT J & W'S CAPACITY TO RESPOND TO THE ARMY'S TEACHING CHALLENGE SUGGESTS A FLEXIBILITY - GIVEN J & W'S COLLEGIATE STATUS - TO ADJUST TO THE CHANGE IN STUDENT LEVEL CAPACITIES FOUND IN THE NAVY ENLISTEES. ALSO, WE ARE INFORMED THAT THE UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS IN A RECENT PROCUREMENT FOR "BASIC SKILLS" AT CAMP LEJEUNE, NORTH CAROLINA, CONCLUDED THAT, ALTHOUGH ACCREDITATION WAS A PROPER REQUIREMENT FOR THE CONTRACTOR, THE TERM ACCREDITATION SHOULD BE DEFINED TO MEAN BOTH ACCREDITATION BY A REGIONALLY ACCREDITED ASSOCIATION OR BY THE AICS WHICH HAS ACCREDITED J & W. THEREFORE, WE BELIEVE THAT THE NAVY SHOULD HAVE CONSIDERED THE AICS ACCREDITATION AND OTHER EVIDENCE SUBMITTED BY J & W AS THE EQUIVALENT OF REGIONAL ACCREDITATION WITH RESPECT TO THE SERVICES REQUIRED HERE. SEE PIKES PEAK COMMUNITY COLLEGE, ABOVE. THUS, WE QUESTION THE EXCLUSION OF J & W FROM THE SUBJECT CONTRACT IN THE ABSENCE OF A SHOWING THAT J & W'S PROPOSED TEACHERS FOR THE COURSES ARE NOT CAPABLE OF ADEQUATE INSTRUCTION OR THAT J & W OTHERWISE LACKS THE NECESSARY CAPABILITY TO PERFORM THE SERVICES.

THEREFORE, WE ARE RECOMMENDING THAT THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY DETERMINE WHETHER TERMINATION OF THE SUBJECT CONTRACT IS FEASIBLE GIVEN THE EXTENT OF PERFORMANCE, IF ANY, UNDER THE SUBJECT CONTRACT. IF THE EXTENT OF PERFORMANCE IS SUCH THAT TERMINATION IS STILL FEASIBLE, WE ARE FURTHER RECOMMENDING THAT THE NAVY - TO THE EXTENT DEEMED NECESSARY - THEN OTHERWISE ASCERTAIN J & W'S CAPABILITY OF PROVIDING THE COURSES ESPECIALLY FOCUSING ON J & W'S PROPOSED TEACHERS FOR THE COURSES. ASSUMING J & W IS CONSIDERED OTHERWISE CAPABLE OF PERFORMING THE SERVICES, WE FURTHER RECOMMEND THAT THE SUBJECT CONTRACT BE TERMINATED AND A NEW CONTRACT BE AWARDED TO J & W ASSUMING THAT THE COLLEGE AGREES TO ACCEPT AWARD ON THE BASIS OF ITS ORIGINAL OFFER.

IN ANY EVENT, WE ARE RECOMMENDING THAT THE OPTION PROVISION IN THE AWARDED CONTRACT NOT BE EXERCISED; THAT ANY FUTURE SOLICITATIONS FOR THESE NONCREDIT COURSES STATE THAT, APART FROM REGIONAL ACCREDITATION, A SCHOOL MAY BE ELIGIBLE FOR AWARD IF IT OTHERWISE DEMONSTRATES ITS INSTITUTIONAL CAPABILITY OF PROVIDING THE COURSES; AND THAT PROSPECTIVE COMPETITORS FOR THESE COURSES BE INFORMED THAT INVESTIGATIONS MAY BE MADE OF THE CREDENTIALS OF PROPOSED COURSE INSTRUCTORS TO DETERMINE THE COMPETITORS' CAPABILITY OF SATISFACTORILY PROVIDING THESE COURSES.

WE ARE ALSO INFORMING THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE THAT IN VIEW OF THE PROTESTS OUR OFFICE HAS RECEIVED CONCERNING ACCREDITATION REQUIREMENTS FOR THESE COURSES THE PRESENT DOD DIRECTIVE MAY NEED TO BE CHANGED TO PROVIDE FURTHER GUIDANCE TO THE SERVICES ON THE ACCEPTABILITY 3F NATIONALLY ACCREDITED SCHOOLS TO PROVIDE THESE COURSES.

PROTEST SUSTAINED.

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