Protest against the Award of a Cost-Plus-Award-Fee Contract

The protester objected to the manner in which a cost-plus-award-fee contract was awarded. The call for a new round of best and final offers, as a result of various material changes made to the specification requirements after submission of best and final offers, was justified and did not constitute an auction technique. The record indicates that the price revisions made under the second round of best and final offers were primarily the result of changed requirements and correction of proposal deficiencies. The costs of phasing in a new contractor may be an evaluation factor, but only if the solicitation so provides. The determinations of proposal merits are a matter of agency discretion and will not be disturbed unless demonstrated to be arbitrary or unreasonable.