B-141673, JAN. 15, 1960
Highlights
ARCHITECT OF THE CAPITOL: REFERENCE IS MADE TO YOUR LETTER DATED JANUARY 9. THE OTHER BIDS WERE $1. EACH OF THESE ITEMS IS FOR BRASS NIPPLES IN SETS OF FROM 5 TO 11 DIFFERENT LENGTHS. THERE IS LITTLE DOUBT THOS. SINCE THE ERROR WAS ALLEGED AND SATISFACTORILY EXPLAINED PRIOR TO AWARD.
B-141673, JAN. 15, 1960
TO HONORABLE J. GEORGE STEWART, ARCHITECT OF THE CAPITOL:
REFERENCE IS MADE TO YOUR LETTER DATED JANUARY 9, 1960, WITH ENCLOSURES, REQUESTING A DECISION AS TO THE ACTION TO BE TAKEN CONCERNING AN ERROR THOS. SOMERVILLE COMPANY ALLEGES IT MADE IN ITS BID OPENED DECEMBER 29, 1959.
BY INVITATION NO. 59144, ISSUED DECEMBER 18, 1959, THE ARCHITECT OF THE CAPITOL REQUESTED BIDS FOR THE FURNISHING OF BRASS, STEEL, AND MALLEABLE IRON PIPE FITTINGS. THOS. SOMERVILLE COMPANY OFFERED TO FURNISH THE FITTINGS FOR $385.98. THE OTHER BIDS WERE $1,076.12,$1,156.64 AND $1,526.44 (CORRECT EXTENSION $1,464.82).
BY LETTER DATED JANUARY 4, 1960, THOS. SOMERVILLE COMPANY ALLEGED AN ERROR IN THE UNIT PRICES USED FOR ITEMS 1 TO 8, INCLUSIVE. EACH OF THESE ITEMS IS FOR BRASS NIPPLES IN SETS OF FROM 5 TO 11 DIFFERENT LENGTHS. THE COMPANY ALLEGES THAT FOR EACH ITEM IT USED THE PRICE OF ONE NIPPLE ONLY INSTEAD OF THE NUMBER OF NIPPLES IN THE SET. THE COMPANY REQUESTED THAT ITS BID BE WITHDRAWN.
IN VIEW OF THE WIDE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE COMPANY'S BID AND THE OTHER BIDS RECEIVED, THERE IS LITTLE DOUBT THOS. SOMERVILLE COMPANY MADE AN ERROR IN ITS BID AS ALLEGED. ACCORDINGLY, SINCE THE ERROR WAS ALLEGED AND SATISFACTORILY EXPLAINED PRIOR TO AWARD, THE BID SHOULD BE DISREGARDED.