B-126090, NOV. 22, 1955

B-126090, NOV. 22, 1955

TO HONORABLE H. V. HIGLEY, ADMINISTRATOR, VETERANS ADMINISTRATION:

REFERENCE IS MADE TO YOUR LETTER OF NOVEMBER 15, 1955, WITH ENCLOSURES, REQUESTING A DECISION AS TO WHETHER THERE MAY BE DISREGARDED THE BID OF THE FERTL-SOIL COMPANY, 673 NEW BRUNSWICK AVENUE, RAHWAY, NEW JERSEY, SUBMITTED IN RESPONSE TO INVITATION NO. 56 88 ISSUED BY THE VETERANS ADMINISTRATION HOSPITAL, LYONS, NEW JERSEY, UNDER DATE OF OCTOBER 5, 1955, FOR FURNISHING ONE GROUP OF TRACTOR MOWER UNITS.

CHART

PAGE NO. 3 OF THE INVITATION SPECIFIES AS FOLLOWS:

ITEM SUPPLIES OR SERVICES QUANTITY UNIT UNIT AMOUNT

NO. (NUMBER PRICE

OF UNITS)

1. TRACTOR MOWER UNITS, THREE 30 INCH ROLLER-DRIVE TYPE LAWN MOWERS FOR TRACTOR USE.

1 EA. $ $

IN ITS BID, THE FERTL-SOIL COMPANY INSERTED $281.00 IN THE UNIT PRICE COLUMN, AND $843.00 IN THE AMOUNT COLUMN. THREE OTHER BIDS WERE RECEIVED IN THE AMOUNTS OF $835, $840, AND $889.73.

BY ITS LETTER DATED OCTOBER 28, 1955, IN RESPONSE TO A REQUEST FOR CONFIRMATION OF ITS BID, THE FERTL-SOIL COMPANY STATED:

"YOUR BID CALLED FOR ONE ROSEMAN PARK CHALLENGER WHICH IS THE EQUIPMENT COVERED BY THE PRICE WE QUOTED IN THE TOTAL COLUMN. OUR REASON FOR BREAKING THIS FIGURE INTO A UNIT PRICE WAS THAT EACH OF THE THREE UNITS WHICH CONSTITUTE A ROSEMAN PARK CHALLENGER CAN BE PURCHASED SEPARATELY WITH ATTACHING DEVICES. BUT, IN AS MUCH AS THE WORDING OF YOUR BID MENTIONED THREE MOWERS WE CONSTRUED THAT AS CALLING FOR THE PRICE OF EACH OF THE THREE MOWERS WHICH CONSTITUTE A COMPLETE ROSEMAN PARK CHALLENGER ASSEMBLY.

"A REFERENCE TO THE ROSEMAN COMPANY'S LIST PRICE ON THIS ITEM WOULD CONFIRM OUR STATEMENT.'

IN VIEW OF THE GREAT DISPARITY BETWEEN THE BID OF THE FERTL-SOIL COMPANY AND THE OTHER BIDS RECEIVED AND THE BIDDER'S EXPLANATION OF ITS INTERPRETATION OF THE SPECIFICATIONS, ITS BID MAY BE DISREGARDED.