Sparksoft’s IT Order Stands Because Protests Aren’t Discussions

Quality Technology Inc. failed to show that Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services engaged in unfair discussions before awarding Sparksoft Corp. a $31 million task order for IT services, the GAO said in a decision released Friday.

Quality Technology couldn’t assert that Sparksoft’s previous protest—which caused the agency to reconsider its initial award decision—constituted discussions with Sparksoft that should have forced the agency to also engage in discussions with Quality Technology, the Government Accountability Office said.

Discussions occur when an agency communicates with an offeror to obtain information to determine the acceptability of a bid, or provides the offeror with ...