Protest of Proposal Rejected by Air Force as Technically Unacceptable

The protester objected to the fact that the Air Force in a two- step negotiated procurement required offerors to furnish certification that the engine proposed was designed according to certain specifications. The Air Force found the protester's proposal unacceptable and refused to allow a time extension for submittal of an additional or substitute certification from a different engine manufacturer. The protest was not filed until over a month after the closing date for receipt of proposals and was thus untimely. As a matter of fact, it appeared that the protester should have obtained the required certification from several engine manufacturers.