Review of VA's Secure VA-Chief Information Security Officer Support Services Acquisition Process

We evaluated the Secure VA-Chief Information Security Officer Support Services acquisition process to determine whether the solicitation, proposal evaluation, and contract award processes were conducted in line with full and open competition requirements. We found the acquisition process demonstrated a potential bias by using knowledge of VA procedures and practices as a significant selection factor without clear disclosure of its relative importance when asking for bids. As such, the technical evaluation process favored awarding the contract to the incumbent, Booz-Allen Hamilton, same contractor who provided VA’s Information Assurance and Information Technology Security Services, for the past two years. VA awarded the contract for $133 million 27 days later, at a premium of 16 percent ($18 million) and 22 percent ($24 million) over the two other offerors.