Navarro Research and Engineering yesterday appealed a Small Business Administration determination that the company does not meet the small business standard for a recently awarded task order for support services to the Depleted Hexafluoride Conversion Project. After receiving size standard challenges from two companies, last week the SBA determined that the company did not meet the $14 million small business limit included in the contract. However, Navarro has appealed that to the SBA’s Office of Hearings and Appeals. “In analyzing Navarro’s size status, the [SBA] Area Office did not utilize the size standard set out under the underlying contract- Navarro’s Consolidated Corporate GSA Schedule… despite SBA regulatory provisions and Federal Acquisition Regulation provisions requiring the use of that standard,” the appeal states.
Navarro claims the size standard in GSA’s consolidated schedule trumps the limit in the contract, and believes the GSA and Government Accountability Office have supported that interpretation. Under that standard, Navarro would only need to meet a 500 employee limit. The task order in question totals $22 million over a three-year performance period with two one-year extension options, and includes providing a variety of services to DUF6 at the Paducah and Portsmouth sites. A decision on the appeal from the SBA could take up to several months. DOE has not responded to requests for comment on how the SBA determination has impacted the DUF6 support contract procurement.