B-130713, APR. 9, 1957
Highlights
FEDERAL SUPPLY SERVICE: ENCLOSED IS A COPY OF OUR LETTER OF TODAY TO THE JOHN R. HOLLINGSWORTH CORPORATION RELATIVE TO ITS PROTEST AGAINST THE ACTION OF YOUR OFFICE IN REJECTING ALL BIDS RECEIVED IN RESPONSE TO INVITATION FN-3J-5210-N-12-14- 56 WHICH WAS THE SUBJECT OF YOUR REPORT OF MARCH 28. WERE OPENED BY GOVERNMENT PERSONNEL AT A TABLE SEPARATED BY A ROW OF FILING CABINETS FROM THE TABLE SUPPLIED FOR THE BIDDERS. THAT BIDS WERE THEN HANDED OVER THE FILING CABINETS FOR THE PUBLIC TO VIEW BUT THE PUBLIC WAS NOT IN A POSITION ACTUALLY TO SEE THE BIDS OPENED. THE STANDARD FORM INVITATION FOR BIDS PROVIDES THAT BIDS WILL BE RECEIVED UNTIL A SPECIFIED DATE AND THEN PUBLICLY OPENED. SINCE THERE IS DOUBT WHETHER THE BIDS IN THIS INSTANCE WERE PUBLICLY OPENED THIS MATTER IS CALLED TO YOUR ATTENTION IN THE BELIEF THAT YOU MAY WISH TO TAKE STEPS TO GUARD AGAINST THE POSSIBILITY THAT BIDDERS MAY HAVE GROUNDS FOR CRITICIZING THE BID OPENING PROCEDURE OF YOUR OFFICE IN FUTURE CASES.
B-130713, APR. 9, 1957
TO THE HONORABLE CLIFTON MACK, COMMISSIONER, FEDERAL SUPPLY SERVICE:
ENCLOSED IS A COPY OF OUR LETTER OF TODAY TO THE JOHN R. HOLLINGSWORTH CORPORATION RELATIVE TO ITS PROTEST AGAINST THE ACTION OF YOUR OFFICE IN REJECTING ALL BIDS RECEIVED IN RESPONSE TO INVITATION FN-3J-5210-N-12-14- 56 WHICH WAS THE SUBJECT OF YOUR REPORT OF MARCH 28, 1957.
ON PAGE 2 OF THE LETTER DATED MARCH 1, 1957, THE JOHN R. HOLLINGSWORTH CORPORATION STATED THAT THE BIDS RECEIVED FOR OPENING ON DECEMBER 14, 1956, WERE OPENED BY GOVERNMENT PERSONNEL AT A TABLE SEPARATED BY A ROW OF FILING CABINETS FROM THE TABLE SUPPLIED FOR THE BIDDERS, AND THAT BIDS WERE THEN HANDED OVER THE FILING CABINETS FOR THE PUBLIC TO VIEW BUT THE PUBLIC WAS NOT IN A POSITION ACTUALLY TO SEE THE BIDS OPENED.
THE STANDARD FORM INVITATION FOR BIDS PROVIDES THAT BIDS WILL BE RECEIVED UNTIL A SPECIFIED DATE AND THEN PUBLICLY OPENED. SINCE THERE IS DOUBT WHETHER THE BIDS IN THIS INSTANCE WERE PUBLICLY OPENED THIS MATTER IS CALLED TO YOUR ATTENTION IN THE BELIEF THAT YOU MAY WISH TO TAKE STEPS TO GUARD AGAINST THE POSSIBILITY THAT BIDDERS MAY HAVE GROUNDS FOR CRITICIZING THE BID OPENING PROCEDURE OF YOUR OFFICE IN FUTURE CASES.