McLean, VA—Potomac Health Associates, Inc. announced that its client, Retina Consultants of Nevada (“RCN”) was awarded a contract to provide retinal services to the Las Vegas VAMC. The award follows a successful protest that led to the VA taking corrective action to the original award because, according to VA counsel, the solicitation was not conducted properly.
PHA was originally retained by RCN to prepare a proposal to provide part-time retinal services at the Las Vegas VAMC. The VA initially selected a staffing firm from California that specialized in correctional medical care. During a debriefing following award, PHA learned details about the evaluation that raised questions as to whether the process was conducted in accordance with stated evaluation criteria from the solicitation
After careful consideration with RCN, PHA filed a formal protest of the award with the Government Accountability Office (“GAO”). Following submission of a supplemental protest and review of the facts presented by PHA, the VA re-considered its position and confirmed the allegations made in the protest:
In lieu of responding to the allegations contained in the protest, VA will undertake corrective action because the source selection may not have been conducted in accordance with the Federal Acquisition Regulation. Therefore, VA will take corrective action by re-evaluating the proposals and making a revised source selection decision, terminating the original decision if necessary…
As a result of the protest, PHA was able to reverse the initial unfavorable award decision, thereby enabling RCN a second chance at re-consideration for award. RCN was eventually selected for award after proposals were re-evaluated and allegations about the original awardees’ inability to perform were confirmed.
About Retina Consultants of Nevada
Retina Consultants of Nevada was established in 1980. With nine ophthalmologists specializing exclusively in diseases and surgery of the retina and vitreous, RCN is the only subspecialty retinal practice in Southern Nevada and largest in the state. The practice practice serves the Nevada markets of Las Vegas, Laughlin, and Mesquite, and the southern Utah area of St. George.
About Potomac Health Associates, Inc.
Potomac Health Associates, Inc. is a professional services firm that specializes in federal health care contracting and business development for commercial clients. Since its inception, the firm has helped its clients win in excess of $450 million in competitive awards from the VA alone, and an estimated $3.8 billion in competitive and non-competitive federal contract awards from federal agencies.