Nothing about this deal makes sense from a user standpoint, to me. First off, why did Boeing stick to the B767 when the Air Force wanted a B777 variant? And if a B767, why the -200ER and not the more AirBus comparable -300ER, or better yet the -400ER which needed orders anyway? Why try to get the USAF to buy the low-end model?
The bid was for a bit of a Frankenbird. Various parts of different 767 models.
The GAO has 3 months to get a ruling out on the protest. Given the visibility of this procurement, I believe it was tightly run and clean. I will read the GAO report with a lot of interest since I am an APC member.
The B777 wouldn't have been able to meet the $40B cap.
The -300/400 would have added empty weight, hence increaed MTOW with a full fuel load. That would have increased runway length.
The best hope the Big B had was the -200bitzer with the small body, big wings and hope Uncle Sugar would accept "meets mininum requirement" as reason to buy American.