Insight Technology Solutions, Inc.
B-420543.2

• Insight Technology challenged a solicitation requirement that offerors possess capability maturity model integration (“CMMI”) level 3 certification at the time of proposal submission.
• GAO denied the argument that the certification requirement was unduly restrictive of competition overall but agreed with the protester that requiring the certification at time of proposal submission, rather than at time of award, was unreasonable.
• GAO found nothing in the record to support a need for the certification prior to the start of performance, much less before award.
• The agency argued earlier certification was necessary to allow it to evaluate offerors, but GAO found no reason the objective determination of whether the offeror possessed the certification would need to be completed until immediately before award, at the earliest.
• GAO recommended the agency amend the solicitation to allow certification at time of award or performance.