B-145290, MAR. 24, 1961

B-145290, MAR. 24, 1961

TO CONTRACTING OFFICER, VETERANS ADMINISTRATION SUPPLY DEPOT, HINES, ILLINOIS:

REFERENCE IS MADE TO YOUR LETTER DATED MARCH 8, 1961, WITH ENCLOSURES, YOUR FILE 7018/1341, REQUESTING A DECISION AS TO THE ACTION TO BE TAKEN CONCERNING AN ERROR CARMAN-CONLEY, INC., ALLEGES IT MADE IN ITS BID OPENED FEBRUARY 20, 1961.

BY INVITATION NO. M2-87-61, ISSUED JANUARY 26, 1961, THE VETERANS ADMINISTRATION SUPPLY DEPOT, HINES, ILLINOIS, REQUESTED BIDS FOR THE FURNISHING OF METAL FRAME LAUNDRY BASKETS. CARMAN-CONLEY, INC., SUBMITTED A BID OFFERING TO FURNISH THE BASKETS FOR $28 EACH. AS THE PRICE WAS CONSIDERABLY LOWER THAN THOSE SUBMITTED BY THE SECOND AND THIRD LOW BIDDERS, PLUS THE FACT THAT THE DEPOT'S RECORDS REVEALED THAT IT HAD NEVER RECEIVED A BID OF LESS THAN $29 EACH FOR ITEM INVOLVED, THE COMPANY WAS REQUESTED TO VERIFY ITS BID. THE COMPANY ADVISED THE CONTRACTING OFFICER THAT THE QUOTATION WAS FOR FURNISHING ITS STANDARD MEESE NO. 22 METAL STOCK FRAME, WHICH DID NOT MEET THE SPECIFICATIONS REQUIREMENTS. THE COMPANY REQUESTED THAT ITS BID BE WITHDRAWN.

THE CONTRACTING OFFICER MADE A COMPARISON BETWEEN THE MEESE NO. 22 AND THE V.A. SPECIFICATIONS AND FOUND THAT THE DIFFERENCES ARE MAJOR IN NATURE AND THAT THE FRAME OFFERED FAILED TO MEET THE MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS OF THE SPECIFICATIONS.

ON THE RECORD, THERE IS LITTLE ROOM FOR DOUBT THAT THE COMPANY MADE AN ERROR IN ITS BID, AS ALLEGED. ACCORDINGLY, SINCE IT WAS BELIEVED THAT THE BID OF CARMAN-CONLEY, INC., WAS ERRONEOUS, AND SUCH BELIEF WAS CONFIRMED AND EXPLAINED PRIOR TO AWARD, THE BID OF THE COMPANY SHOULD BE ..END :