Battelle Memorial Institute

B-424575,B-424575.2 Sep 10, 2026 Jump To FULL REPORT VIEW DECISION RELATED PAGES GAO CONTACTS Highlights Battelle Memorial Institute, of Columbus, Ohio, protests the award of a contract to KBR Services, LLC, of Houston, Texas, under request for proposals (RFP) No. 49100425R0006, issued by the National Science Foundation (NSF) for science and engineering support services in Antarctica. Battelle argues that the agency unreasonably evaluated proposals and improperly made the selection decision. We sustain the protest in part and deny it in part. View Decision DOCUMENT FOR PUBLIC RELEASE The decision issued on the date below was subject to a GAO Protective Order. This redacted version has been approved for public release. Decision Matter of: Battelle Memorial Institute File: B-424575; B-424575.2 Date: September 10, 2026 Marques O. Peterson, Esq., Meghan D. Doherty, Esq., Aleksey R. Dabbs, Esq., Sarah M. Robitaille, Esq., and Jordan C. Holt, Esq., Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP, for the protester. Seth H. Locke, Esq., Susan J. Hennessey, Esq., Jarrod R. Carman, Esq., Jessica Shelnutt, Esq., and Lauren Newby, Esq., Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP, for KBR Services, LLC, the intervenor. John J. Cho, Esq., National Science Foundation, for the agency. Todd C. Culliton, Esq., and Tania Calhoun, Esq., Office of the General Counsel, GAO, participated in the preparation of the decision. DIGEST 1. Allegation that the agency unreasonably failed to consider a corporate transaction concerning the awardee is denied where the record shows the agency analyzed the scope and ramifications of the pending transaction. 2. Allegation that the agency's cost realism evaluation was unreasonable is denied where the record shows the agency examined the awardee's labor rates and the supporting data to determine they realistically could support recruiting and retaining labor. 3. Allegation that the agency unreasonably evaluated the awardee's proposed key person is denied where the record shows that the agency did not relax any material solicitation requirements to accommodate the proposed individual's “cooling off” period. 4. Allegation that the agency unreasonably considered whether the awardee unfairly accessed competitive information through its hiring of a former agency official is denied where the record shows the contracting officer meaningfully investigated and reasonably determined that the individual did not have access to non-public competitively useful information and the scope of his duties and nature of his prior employment did not create the appearance of an impropriety. 5. Allegations that the agency unreasonably evaluated the protester's management approach are denied where the record shows that the evaluation was consistent with the contents of the proposal and the terms and conditions of the solicitation. 6. Allegations that the agency unequally evaluated management approach proposals are denied where the record shows that any differences between the evaluations were supported by distinctions between the proposals. 7. Allegation that the agency unreasonably credited the awardee with the experience and past performance of its affiliate company is sustained where the record shows that the firm's proposal did not articulate what resources or services the affiliated company would provide in supporting performance of this contract. DECISION Battelle Memorial Institute, of Columbus, Ohio, protests the award of a contract to KBR Services, LLC, of Houston, Texas, under request for proposals (RFP) No. 49100425R0006, issued by the National Science Foundation (NSF) for science and engineering support services in Antarctica. Battelle argues that the agency unreasonably evaluated proposals and improperly made the selection decision. We sustain the protest in part and deny it in part. BACKGROUND On May 9, 2025, the NSF issued the RFP to procure scientific and engineering support services for the United States Antarctic Policy and Programs (USAP). Agency Report (AR), Tab 2A, RFP, amend. 5, at 1, 6, 11.[1] The USAP supports scientific research and related logistics in Antarctica and the Southern Ocean. Id. at 11. Examples of services to be provided include management and budget planning; research and development; laboratory services and science support; manage and operate a research vessel; and field support for Antarctic stations.[2] Id. at 16-19. The RFP contemplated the award of a single indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract to be performed over a 20-year ordering period with an $8 billion ceiling on all orders placed. RFP, amend. 5 at 6, 97. Orders would be placed on fixed-price, cost‑reimbursable, cost-plus-fixed fee, cost-plus-award, or hybrid bases. Id. Award would be made on a best-value tradeoff basis considering technical and price/cost factors. Id. at 96.