B-129728, NOV. 26, 1956
Highlights
NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH: REFERENCE IS MADE TO A LETTER DATED NOVEMBER 1. BY INVITATION NO. 202-10-24-56 BIDS WERE REQUESTED FOR FURNISHING. 393 SHOULD HAVE BEEN QUOTED FOR THE TAPE RECORDER COVERED BY ITEM 1. THAT THE ERROR WAS THE RESULT OF OVERLOOKING THE INVITATION REQUIREMENT FOR TAPE SPEEDS OF 3 3/4 AND 7 1/2 INCHES PER SECOND. PUBLISHED LITERATURE OF THE MANUFACTURER SHOWS THAT ALL RECORDERS OF MODEL 350 (OF WHICH 350-3R IS ONE) ARE FURNISHED WITH TAPE SPEEDS OF EITHER 15 AND 7 1/2 I.P.S. THAT A HIGHER PRICE IS CHARGED FOR THE LOWER SPEED EQUIPMENT. THERE IS NO ROOM FOR REASONABLE DOUBT THAT THE COMPANY MISTAKENLY QUOTED IN ITS BID THE PRICE FOR A RECORDER OPERATING AT THE HIGHER 15 AND 7 1/2 I.P.S.
B-129728, NOV. 26, 1956
TO MR. DONALD R. WATSON, CONTRACTING OFFICER, NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH:
REFERENCE IS MADE TO A LETTER DATED NOVEMBER 1, 1956, WITH ENCLOSURES, FROM MR. DAVID S. BRUNSON, CHIEF, DIVISION OF ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES, PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE, REQUESTING, ON YOUR BEHALF, A DECISION AS TO THE ACTION TO BE TAKEN CONCERNING AN ERROR THE GATES RADIO COMPANY, QUINCY, ILLINOIS, ALLEGES IT MADE IN ITS BID OPENED ON OCTOBER 24, 1956.
BY INVITATION NO. 202-10-24-56 BIDS WERE REQUESTED FOR FURNISHING, AMONG OTHER ITEMS, ONE TAPE RECORDER, 3-CHANNEL, RACK TYPE, STEREOPHONIC, FULL- TRACK ERASE, FOR MOUNTING ON 19 INCH EQUIPMENT RACK, AMPEX CORPORATION MODEL 350-3R OR EQUAL, ITEM 1. IN RESPONSE THE GATES RADIO COMPANY SUBMITTED A BID DATED OCTOBER 19, 1956, OFFERING TO FURNISH UNDER ITEM 1, ONE AMPEX CORPORATION MODEL 350-3R TAPE RECORDER AT A PRICE OF $2,393.
BY LETTERS DATED OCTOBER 26 AND NOVEMBER 15, 1956, THE GATES RADIO COMPANY ADVISED THAT A PRICE OF $2,500 INSTEAD OF $2,393 SHOULD HAVE BEEN QUOTED FOR THE TAPE RECORDER COVERED BY ITEM 1, AND THAT THE ERROR WAS THE RESULT OF OVERLOOKING THE INVITATION REQUIREMENT FOR TAPE SPEEDS OF 3 3/4 AND 7 1/2 INCHES PER SECOND.
THE RECORD INDICATES THAT THE FOUR OTHER BIDDERS ON ITEM 1 QUOTED AN IDENTICAL PRICE OF $2,500, AND THAT EACH OF THEM OFFERED TO FURNISH AN AMPEX CORPORATION MODEL 350-3R TAPE RECORDER, THE SAME AS OFFERED BY THE GATES RADIO COMPANY. PUBLISHED LITERATURE OF THE MANUFACTURER SHOWS THAT ALL RECORDERS OF MODEL 350 (OF WHICH 350-3R IS ONE) ARE FURNISHED WITH TAPE SPEEDS OF EITHER 15 AND 7 1/2 I.P.S., OR 7 1/2 AND 3 3/4 I.P.S., AND THAT A HIGHER PRICE IS CHARGED FOR THE LOWER SPEED EQUIPMENT.
ON THE RECORD, THERE IS NO ROOM FOR REASONABLE DOUBT THAT THE COMPANY MISTAKENLY QUOTED IN ITS BID THE PRICE FOR A RECORDER OPERATING AT THE HIGHER 15 AND 7 1/2 I.P.S. SPEEDS. ACCORDINGLY, SINCE THE ERROR WAS ALLEGED PRIOR TO AWARD, THE BID OF THE GATES RADIO COMPANY MAY BE DISREGARDED IN MAKING THE AWARD.