Medline Industries Keeps VA Supply Orders Worth Over $1 Billion

The US Department of Veterans Affairs’ award of medical and surgical supplies delivery orders to Medline Industries LP worth over $1 billion withstood several protests, the Government Accountability Office said.

Medline’s awards were challenged by several protesters, including Owens & Minor Distribution Inc., Cardinal Health 200 LLC, and Concordance Healthcare Solutions. They alleged the agency improperly evaluated technical proposals; didn’t consider information relevant to the agency’s responsibility determination; and didn’t properly evaluate whether Medline had disqualifying organizational conflicts of interest.

"[A]gencies properly may evaluate proposals based on considerations not expressly stated in the solicitation where those considerations are ...