[Request for Reconsideration of Decision Concerning Protest of Air Force Contract Award]

A firm requested reconsideration of its dismissed protest of an Air Force contract award to another firm for hydraulic pump housing. GAO had held that: (1) the protester untimely filed its protest of alleged solicitation improprieties; and (2) it would not review the Air Force's affirmative determination of the awardee's responsibility. In its request for reconsideration, the protester contended that the Air Force improperly agreed to provide the awardee with progress payments without affording it the opportunity to bid on the same basis. GAO held that the: (1) Air Force's decision to use progress payments was not a requirements change or a material deviation from the specifications; and (2) protester and the awardee competed on an equal basis. Accordingly, the request for reconsideration was denied.