B-131848, MAY 21, 1957
Highlights
NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH: REFERENCE IS MADE TO YOUR LETTER OF MAY 8. THE OTHER BIDS RECEIVED WERE $540 AND $545 EACH. THERE IS NO ROOM FOR DOUBT THAT THE COMPANY MADE AN ERROR IN ITS BID. SINCE THE APPARENT ERROR WAS NOTICED BY THE CONTRACTING OFFICER. THE ERROR WAS CONFIRMED AND SATISFACTORILY EXPLAINED PRIOR TO AWARD.
B-131848, MAY 21, 1957
TO MR. DONALD R. WATSON, CONTRACTING OFFICER, NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH:
REFERENCE IS MADE TO YOUR LETTER OF MAY 8, 1957, WITH ENCLOSURES, REQUESTING A DECISION AS TO THE ACTION TO BE TAKEN CONCERNING AN ERROR ARMSTRONG METAL SPECIALTIES, INC., ALLEGES IT MADE IN ITS BID OPENED APRIL 30, 1957.
BY INVITATION NO. 579-4-30-57, THE NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH REQUESTED BIDS FOR THE FURNISHING OF THREE STANDS FOR PLASTIC CAGES, TYPE S-2760. ARMSTRONG METAL SPECIALTIES, INC., SUBMITTED THE LOW BID OF $253.81 EACH. THE OTHER BIDS RECEIVED WERE $540 AND $545 EACH. THE CONTRACTING OFFICER REQUESTED THE COMPANY TO VERIFY ITS BID. BY LETTER OF MAY 2, 1957, THE COMPANY STATED THAT IT HAD INADVERTENTLY OMITTED FROM ITS BID THE STAINLESS STEEL SHEET COSTS.
ON THE RECORD, THERE IS NO ROOM FOR DOUBT THAT THE COMPANY MADE AN ERROR IN ITS BID, AS ALLEGED. ACCORDINGLY, SINCE THE APPARENT ERROR WAS NOTICED BY THE CONTRACTING OFFICER, AND UPON REQUEST FOR VERIFICATION, THE ERROR WAS CONFIRMED AND SATISFACTORILY EXPLAINED PRIOR TO AWARD, THE BID OF ARMSTRONG METAL SPECIALTIES, INC., SHOULD BE DISREGARDED.