Guidehouse received a "no-confidence" rating on its staffing plan after it deviated from the solicitation's "staffing matrix" to offer a lower price. On protest, the agency argued that the staffing plan "relied on unsupported and inadequately explained assumption" and didn't articulate benefits to the agency. GAO sided with the agency. Protest denied.
GAO: Guidehouse Digital, LLC, B-423833,B-423833.2 (Jan 05, 2026)
A whole bunch of changes coming to the Multiple Award Schedule beginning in February. Some of what's in? Transactional Data Reporting expansion; AI-compliance language and inclusion of Revolutionary FAR Overhaul deviations; and adjustments to the OLM SIN. There's a webinar scheduled for February 10, 2026.
GSA: Advanced Notice for MAS Refresh 31 and Upcoming Mass Modification (Jan. 12, 2026)
Subscribe to receive Quick Takes directly—short analysis on what matters in government contracting.
Protestor argued that awardee's past performance — including the Air Force's "party bus contract" — wasn't at sufficient "scale." The agency argued that scale did not require a dollar‑value analysis and GAO agreed that the nature of the work (not prior contract value) was sufficient.
Also, watch this space!
"[W]hile not presented as a distinct protest ground, underlying the protester's numerous arguments taking issue with Salient's evaluation are allegations that DCSA improperly relied upon artificial intelligence (AI), rather than agency evaluators, to conduct the evaluation. In its report responding to the protest, the agency addressed these allegations. (attesting that “human evaluators” assessed quotations).
GAO: Salient CRGT, Inc., B-423640.2,B-423640.4 (Jan 05, 2026)
Sometimes, an agency wants key personnel with specific degrees. Here, a solicitation asked for someone with a technical degree (comp sci), but the agency ended up being ok with someone with a psychology degree, concluding it was a "minor weakness." Outcome? Protest denied. Didn't help that the protestor also had a non-comp-sci KP.
Another "too late" case. Reconsideration denied.
GAO: Oready LLC--Reconsideration, File: B-424096.2 (January 5, 2026)
