Skip to main content

B-124539, JUL. 12, 1955

B-124539 Jul 12, 1955
Jump To:
Skip to Highlights

Highlights

NATIONAL CAPITAL HOUSING AUTHORITY: REFERENCE IS MADE TO YOUR LETTER OF JUNE 30. BIDS WERE REQUESTED ON ITEM NO. 1. THE THREE BIDS RECEIVED WERE AS FOLLOWS: TABLE ITEM NO. 1 ITEM NO. 2 (CASASSA/. 586 YOU STATE THAT NOTICE WAS TAKEN OF THE PROBABILITY OF ERROR IN MR. CASASSA'S BID SINCE IT WAS SO MUCH LOWER THAN THE TWO OTHER BIDS AND THE GOVERNMENT ESTIMATE OF $1. VERIFICATION OF THE BID WAS REQUESTED. CASASSA ADVISED THAN AN ERROR WAS MADE IN PREPARING HIS BID IN THAT THE PRICE QUOTED IN ITEM NO. 2. WAS THE "SUB" BID ONLY AND THAT THE PRICE OF $795 ($615 PLUS $180 FOR PROFIT AND SUPERVISION) QUOTED ON ITEM NO. 1. WAS HIS INTENDED BID PRICE FOR ITEM NO. 2. WAS ENTIRELY OMITTED. THE MISTAKE WAS ATTRIBUTED BY MR.

View Decision

B-124539, JUL. 12, 1955

TO MR. JAMES RING, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, NATIONAL CAPITAL HOUSING AUTHORITY:

REFERENCE IS MADE TO YOUR LETTER OF JUNE 30, 1955, WITH ENCLOSURES, REQUESTING A DECISION AS TO WHETHER AN UNDATED BID SUBMITTED BY BERNARD J. CASASSA IN RESPONSE TO INVITATION NO. 2, ISSUED JUNE 8, 1955, MAY BE DISREGARDED, IN VIEW OF THE BIDDER'S ALLEGATION OF ERROR.

BIDS WERE REQUESTED ON ITEM NO. 1, COVERING THE CONSTRUCTION OF AN ENTIRE 82-FOOT CONCRETE RETAINING WALL AT REAR OF KNOX HILL DWELLINGS AND ON ITEM NO. 2, COVERING THE CENTER PORTION OF THE WALL 58 FEET LONG. THE THREE BIDS RECEIVED WERE AS FOLLOWS:

TABLE

ITEM NO. 1 ITEM NO. 2

(CASASSA/--- $ 795 $ 615

(NEXT LOWEST/--- 1,494 1,157

(HIGHEST/--- 1,960 1,586

YOU STATE THAT NOTICE WAS TAKEN OF THE PROBABILITY OF ERROR IN MR. CASASSA'S BID SINCE IT WAS SO MUCH LOWER THAN THE TWO OTHER BIDS AND THE GOVERNMENT ESTIMATE OF $1,250 FOR THE ENTIRE WALL (ITEM NO. 1) AND, THEREFORE, VERIFICATION OF THE BID WAS REQUESTED. BY LETTER OF JUNE 23, 1955, MR. CASASSA ADVISED THAN AN ERROR WAS MADE IN PREPARING HIS BID IN THAT THE PRICE QUOTED IN ITEM NO. 2, WAS THE "SUB" BID ONLY AND THAT THE PRICE OF $795 ($615 PLUS $180 FOR PROFIT AND SUPERVISION) QUOTED ON ITEM NO. 1, WAS HIS INTENDED BID PRICE FOR ITEM NO. 2, WHEREAS HIS INTENDED BID OF $1,110 (COMPLETE BREAKDOWN FURNISHED) FOR ITEM NO. 1, WAS ENTIRELY OMITTED. THE MISTAKE WAS ATTRIBUTED BY MR. CASASSA TO CONFUSION WITH HIS BID ON ANOTHER PRIVATE JOB AT THE TIME.

THERE APPEARS TO BE LITTLE, IF ANY, ROOM FOR DOUBT THAT A BONA FIDE ERROR WAS MADE IN THE BID AS ALLEGED. ACCORDINGLY, SINCE IT WAS BELIEVED THAT THE BID WAS ERRONEOUS AND SINCE SUCH BELIEF WAS CONFIRMED AND THE ERROR WAS EXPLAINED BY THE BIDDER PRIOR TO AWARD, THE BID OF BERNARD J. CASASSA SHOULD BE DISREGARDED.

GAO Contacts

Office of Public Affairs