B-132633, JUL. 25, 1957
Highlights
VETERANS ADMINISTRATION: REFERENCE IS MADE TO YOUR LETTER OF JULY 18. ALLEGES WAS MADE IN ITS BID OPENED ON JUNE 11. THAT A TYPOGRAPHICAL ERROR HAD BEEN MADE IN ITS BID AND THAT THE CORRECT PRICE FOR THE REQUIRED SERVICE IS $165 PER MONTH. THERE IS NO ROOM FOR DOUBT THAT THE CORPORATION MADE AN ERROR IN ITS BID.
B-132633, JUL. 25, 1957
TO MR. GLENN C. PARMELEE, DIRECTOR, SUPPLY SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF MEDICINE AND SURGERY, VETERANS ADMINISTRATION:
REFERENCE IS MADE TO YOUR LETTER OF JULY 18, 1957, FILE 134C6, WITH ENCLOSURES, REQUESTING A DECISION AS TO THE ACTION TO BE TAKEN CONCERNING AN ERROR WHICH THE SHAW SERVICE COMPANY, INC., ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ALLEGES WAS MADE IN ITS BID OPENED ON JUNE 11, 1957.
THE VETERANS ADMINISTRATION HOSPITAL, JEFFERSON BARRACKS 23, MISSOURI, REQUESTED BIDS FOR FURNISHING PEST CONTROL SERVICE DURING THE PERIOD BEGINNING FROM JULY 1, 1957, TO JUNE 30, 1958. IN RESPONSE THE SHAW SERVICE COMPANY, INC., SUBMITTED A BID DATED JUNE 8, 1957, OFFERING TO FURNISH THE SERVICE AT A MONTHLY RATE OF $65. THE FIVE OTHER BIDDERS SPECIFIED MONTHLY RATES RANGING FROM $89 TO $333.33.
UPON BEING REQUESTED TO VERIFY ITS BID, THE SHAW SERVICE COMPANY, INC., ADVISED BY LETTER DATED JUNE 24, 1957, THAT A TYPOGRAPHICAL ERROR HAD BEEN MADE IN ITS BID AND THAT THE CORRECT PRICE FOR THE REQUIRED SERVICE IS $165 PER MONTH. IN SUPPORT OF ITS ALLEGATION OF ERROR, THE CORPORATION SUBMITTED AN AFFIDAVIT DATED JUNE 21, 1957, FROM ITS APPRAISER, WHO HAD COMPUTED THE CORPORATION'S BID PRICE, AND THE APPRAISER'S WORKSHEET.
ON THE RECORD, THERE IS NO ROOM FOR DOUBT THAT THE CORPORATION MADE AN ERROR IN ITS BID, AS ALLEGED. ACCORDINGLY, SINCE IT WAS BELIEVED THAT THE BID WAS ERRONEOUS, AND SUCH BELIEF WAS CONFIRMED AND THE ERROR WAS EXPLAINED PRIOR TO AWARD, THE BID OF THE SHAW SERVICE COMPANY, INC., ..END