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FRONT BURNER

Middle East Prime Vendor Challenge Delays Change

transition to a new prime vendor for the Middle East sider the teaming agreement among the contracts used
A that began with a contract awarded in January 2018 to evaluate KGL’s experience. Instead, DLA substituted
by Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support hit a snag in for it with another contract KGL submitted as part of an
May when the Government Accountability Office (GAO) earlier proposal but had replaced. The set of contracts
sustained a key challenge of several raised in a protest DLA selected for consideration enabled KGL to meet the
made by the current contractor. experience requirements and led to it being selected the
KGL Food Services of Kuwait in January was awarded a Middle East prime vendor.
60-month contract with an estimated annual dollar value However, it also became the foundation for GAO to
of $90,237,903 to be the full-line food distributor supply- sustain ANHAM’s challenge regarding KGL’s experience
ing approximately 26 military and other federally funded because DLA picked which contracts it considered from
customers in Kuwait, Iraq, Syria and Jordan. more than just the five each company is allowed to submit
ANHAM FCZO LLC, the current Middle East prime as part of a proposal.
vendor, continues in that role until a follow-on contract In a May 8, 2018, decision, GAO sustained ANHAM’s
gets decided, according to Patrick Mackin, deputy director, protest, concluding the solicitation’s language does not
public affairs, Defense Logistics Agency. He added that allow DLA to pick and choose which of the contracts
new litigation had been filed since ANHAM protested the submitted across multiple rounds of discussion it would
award with GAO, and DLA is unable to comment further consider. In fact, when more than five contracts were sub-
at this time. mitted, rules were for DLA to take those with the highest
GAO in its May 8, 2018, decision recommended that dollar value for consideration.
DLA Troop Support either reevaluate KGL’s final proposal
or revise the solicitation to reflect its
requirements and obtain revised pro-
posals. Training Event Unites
DLA Troop Support began the pro- Armed Forces Food Services
cess of selecting a new Middle East
prime vendor when it issued a request ith military food service working constantly to maintain high
for proposals (RFP) on Dec. 18, 2015, Wcustomer satisfaction, being able to brainstorm about warfighter
and received seven submissions by the expectations with experts and industry vendors is an advantage to keep
Feb. 8, 2016 closing date, including up with a constantly changing landscape.
one each from KGL and ANHAM. Air Force Services Activity (AFSVA) hosts the 2018 Armed Forces Food
During the evaluation process, KGL and Beverage Training Event Aug. 6 to 11 in San Antonio, Texas, at the
in October 2016 revised its original Wyndam San Antonio Riverwalk.
proposal in response to concerns raised It includes an educational program featuring sessions and presenta-
by DLA, replacing two of five contracts tions led by military and hospitality industry experts on topics for the
it submitted as references and evidence appropriated fund and nonappropriated fund segments.
of performance experience. The International Military Community Executives Association (IMCEA)
In November 2016, DLA notified also holds a half-day trade show during the training event from 10:30
KGL that now each of the revised set of a.m. to 3 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 9.
five contracts it provided fell short of About 400 attendees from the Air Force and other services are expected
dollar-value requirement set in the RFP. for the training program and trade show. IMCEA expects to fill a show
To meet the requirement and im- floor with about 100 exhibit booths, and can accommodate as many as
prove its evaluation, KGL in January 110. The last show two years ago, featured about 90 exhibitors.
2017 revised its proposal a second time, AFSVA considers the Training Event an opportunity for military food
replacing one of the three contracts service managers to discuss and learn about new ideas, as well as to net-
submitted with the original proposal work with industry experts and collaborate with vendors.
while retaining the two substitutions
made in the November revision.
Again, DLA informed KGL in May
2017 that it fell short of requirements
and to submit a final revised proposal
by the end of that month. The final
proposal substituted the latest contract
added in January with another that
was performed for KGL by another
company under a teaming agreement. An educational program features topics for all Within the Armed Forces Food and Beverage
DLA recognized it could not con- attendees plus breakout sessions where smaller Training Event, IMCEA holds a trade show that
groups can focus on specific areas of interest.
it expects will feature about 100 exhibit booths.
4 GOVERNMENT FOOD SERVICE • JULY 2018