B-148575, SEP. 20, 1962
Highlights
INC.: REFERENCE IS MADE TO YOUR LETTER OF AUGUST 7. WHICH WAS EXECUTED PURSUANT TO REQUEST FOR QUOTATIONS NO. 09-603-62-2146. THE DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE ADVISES THAT THE PERMANENT FILTER CORPORATION UNIT WAS DETERMINED TO BE ACCEPTABLE AND INTERCHANGEABLE WITH YOUR PART NUMBER 1039B ON THE BASIS OF A COMPLETE TECHNICAL EVALUATION AND ANALYSIS OF THE PROPOSED PRODUCT BY THE STANDARDIZATION BRANCH. A UNIT DESCRIPTION DEVELOPED IN ACCORDANCE WITH MILITARY SPECIFICATION MIL-D-26715A AND APPROPRIATE TECHNICAL HANDBOOKS DESCRIBING THE FILTER UNIT WERE USED FOR ANALYSIS AND DETERMINATION OF ACCEPTABILITY. ON THIS BASIS IT WAS ESTABLISHED THAT THE TWO UNITS WERE. WITH REFERENCE TO YOUR STATEMENT THAT FILTERS OF THE SAME TYPE OF MATERIAL BEING PURCHASED UNDER THE ABOVE CONTRACT HAVE PREVIOUSLY BEEN PROCURED AND FAILED.
B-148575, SEP. 20, 1962
TO HI-LO ENGINEERING AND MANUFACTURING, INC.:
REFERENCE IS MADE TO YOUR LETTER OF AUGUST 7, 1962, REQUESTING ADDITIONAL INFORMATION IN CONNECTION WITH THE EVALUATION OF FILTERS TO BE FURNISHED BY PERMANENT FILTER CORPORATION UNDER CONTRACT NO. AF 09/603/-40110, DATED MARCH 7, 1962, WHICH WAS EXECUTED PURSUANT TO REQUEST FOR QUOTATIONS NO. 09-603-62-2146, ISSUED BY WARNER ROBINS AIR MATERIEL AREA, ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, GEORGIA.
THE DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE ADVISES THAT THE PERMANENT FILTER CORPORATION UNIT WAS DETERMINED TO BE ACCEPTABLE AND INTERCHANGEABLE WITH YOUR PART NUMBER 1039B ON THE BASIS OF A COMPLETE TECHNICAL EVALUATION AND ANALYSIS OF THE PROPOSED PRODUCT BY THE STANDARDIZATION BRANCH, MATERIEL SERVICES DIVISION, DIRECTORATE OF MATERIEL MANAGEMENT. A UNIT DESCRIPTION DEVELOPED IN ACCORDANCE WITH MILITARY SPECIFICATION MIL-D-26715A AND APPROPRIATE TECHNICAL HANDBOOKS DESCRIBING THE FILTER UNIT WERE USED FOR ANALYSIS AND DETERMINATION OF ACCEPTABILITY. IN ADDITION, A QUALIFIED ENGINEER FROM PERMANENT FILTER CORPORATION VISITED ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE FOR CONSULTATION CONCERNING QUESTIONS OF INTERCHANGEABILITY. ON THIS BASIS IT WAS ESTABLISHED THAT THE TWO UNITS WERE, IN FACT, INTERCHANGEABLE.
WITH REFERENCE TO YOUR STATEMENT THAT FILTERS OF THE SAME TYPE OF MATERIAL BEING PURCHASED UNDER THE ABOVE CONTRACT HAVE PREVIOUSLY BEEN PROCURED AND FAILED, THE AIR FORCE REPORTS THAT A THOROUGH INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN CONDUCTED AT WARNER ROBINS AIR MATERIEL AREA AND NO EVIDENCE HAS BEEN FOUND TO SUPPORT YOUR ALLEGATION.
FURTHERMORE, THIS AWARD WAS NOT MADE SOLELY ON THE BASIS OF PRICE, AS INDICATED BY YOU, BUT THE PRICING INFORMATION FURNISHED BY YOU DID NOT ESTABLISH THE REASONABLENESS OF YOUR PRICE, AND IF PERMANENT FILTER CAN PRODUCE A SATISFACTORY ITEM FOR $165 EACH, THE CONCLUSION SEEMS JUSTIFIED THAT YOUR PRICE OF $617 WAS EXCESSIVE.
IF THE UNIT BEING FURNISHED BY PERMANENT FILTER SHOULD PROVE TO BE DEFICIENT, THE GOVERNMENT MAY REPLACE THE ITEM AT THE CONTRACTOR'S EXPENSE, BUT ON THE PRESENT RECORD WE MUST ADHERE TO OUR ORIGINAL CONCLUSION THAT THE AWARD WAS PROPERLY MADE FOR SPECIFICATION MATERIAL.