The Air Force concluded demonstration performance was “used to justify technical capability and not solely to assess risk,” as was the intent, the court document says. The Air Force eliminated the demonstrations from the restaged competition.

SNC’s protest against this move was denied by the judge. The court found the decision to remove the demonstration requirement from the risk assessment for the new solicitation was “reasonable in the circumstances.”

The court also ruled it was “rational and reasonable” for the Air Force to take corrective action in response to HBC’s protest, and that its decision to cancel SNC’s contract and resolicit proposals should stand.