[Protest of Air Force Contract Award for Development of Advanced Gun Technology]

A firm protested an Air Force cost-plus-incentive-fee contract award for the development of advanced gun technology, contending that the Air Force improperly: (1) evaluated its bid and downgraded it for failing to meet requirements that were not in the solicitation; and (2) awarded the contract to another bidder whose costs were higher than its own. GAO held that the Air Force properly: (1) evaluated the protester's bid; and (2) awarded the contract to the higher bidder since its barrel design and performance offered fewer risks than the protester's and it was more successful in limiting cost overruns for work performed in-house. Accordingly, the protest was denied.