GAO denies AKO protests

“GAO Bid Protest Docket”

The Government Accountability Office has denied the protests of CherryRoad Technologies and EDS regarding the award of the Army Knowledge Online (AKO) Enterprise Services contract in July to an industry team led by Lockheed Martin.

GAO issued the ruling Monday. The agency did not provide a reason for the decision on its Web site.

Army and GAO officials did not immediately respond to telephone calls seeking comment. Bob Guerra, a partner at the government consulting firm Guerra, Kiviat, Flyzik and Associates who has publicly criticized the companies for filing a protest during wartime, said he could not be happier with the ruling.

“Maybe now that we have wasted the government’s time and money and added another delay to getting our troops the best information possible, we can move AKO to what it really can become,” Guerra said in an e-mail statement.

CherryRoad filed a protest on the basis of matter of interpretation. EDS believed the Army did not select the best proposal based on best value.

The Army awarded a $152.1 million contract for one year with six option years to Lockheed Martin this summer. Under the performance-based contract, the company and its team members will administer the service’s Web portal and oversee its knowledge management program.