ManTech’s FBI protest once again falls short

The sixth time was not a charm for ManTech International in its battle with Leidos for a $137.7 million contract to support the FBI with digital and IT services.

Leidos first won the contract in March 2023. Several protests and corrective actions followed as ManTech pushed the FBI to amend aspects of the solicitation.

Early on, the protests focused on aspects of the FBI’s evaluation of ManTech’s proposal. The company felt that the FBI underrated its corporate experience factor and staffing approach.

ManTech also questioned the best-value tradeoff decision because its proposed price of $128.5 million was lower than Leidos’s winning $137.7 million bid.

The Government Accountability Office found the FBI’s evaluation was reasonable.

ManTech filed its newest protest in March, arguing that the FBI should change the solicitation because of President Trump’s memorandum mandating that federal employees return to the office.

But here, GAO dismissed ManTech’s challenge because the company failed to identify any performance requirements that would be affected by memorandum.

“ManTech’s general assertion that in-person work requirements for federal employees will impact the contract requirements--without identification of any particular material impact on the contract requirements and contractor’s performance--fails to meet the required standard,” GAO wrote in its decision that was unsealed Wednesday.

That ruling marks the end of the road for ManTech's protest.

Because the FBI awarded this as a task order under the General Services Administration Schedule, ManTech cannot continue a protest at the U.S. Court of Federal Claims.

The FBI is now free to begin sending work to Leidos.