[Protest of DGSC Contract Award for Helicopter Seat Covers]

A firm protested a Defense General Supply Center (DGSC) contract award for helicopter seat covers, contending that DGSC: (1) should have found the awardee ineligible for award, since it failed to comply with the solicitation's technical requirements; and (2) should have considered its protest under the significant-issue exception to the timeliness rules. GAO held that the: (1) protester untimely filed after bid opening its protest against the awardee's eligibility determination; and (2) protest did not warrant consideration under the significant-issue or good-cause exception, since it was not of widespread significance to the procurement community. Accordingly, the protest was dismissed.