[Request for Reconsideration of Untimely Protest]

A firm requested reconsideration of a decision which dismissed as untimely its protest that an Air Force solicitation was improper because it stated that progress payments would not be allowed until after first article approval, contending that the protest should be considered under the significant issue exception. The significant issue exception is limited to issues of widespread interest to the procurement community which have not been considered in previous decisions. Since GAO has previously held that the discretion to determine whether or not provisions for progress payments are to be included in a solicitation rests with the contracting officer, GAO found that the protest did not warrant review under the significant issue exception. Accordingly, the prior decision was affirmed.