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) evalua...

PROCUREMENT - COMPETITIVE NEGOTIATION - CONTRACT AWARDS - ADMINISTRATIVE DISCRETION - COST/TECHNICAL TRADEOFFS - TECHNICAL SUPERIORITY DIGEST: CONTRACTING AGENCY PROPERLY MAY MAKE AWARD TO OFFEROR SUBMITTING HIGHER COST PROPOSAL WHERE COST IS OF LESS IMPORTANCE THAN TECHNICAL FACTORS AND THE SUPERIORITY OF THE HIGHER COST PROPOSAL IS REASONABLY CONSIDERED BY THE AGENCY TO BE WORTH THE PRICE PREMIU...