B-134643, DEC. 18, 1957
Highlights
TO HONORABLE RAYMOND BLATTENBERGER: REFERENCE IS MADE TO YOUR LETTER OF DECEMBER 11. WAS NOTIFIED ON DECEMBER 4. THE WASHINGTON REPRESENTATIVE OF THE BIDDER ADVISED THE CONTRACTING OFFICER BY TELEPHONE THAT THEIR QUOTATION HAD BEEN SUBMITTED IN ERROR BECAUSE THE FIRM DOES NOT HAVE FANFOLD EQUIPMENT OF ANY KIND THAT WOULD PRODUCE THE WORK DESCRIBED IN THE SPECIFICATIONS. IT IS UNDERSTOOD THAT THE QUALIFICATIONS OF POTENTIAL SUPPLIERS OF PRINTED FORMS TO YOUR OFFICE ARE DETERMINED BY THE PROCUREMENT OFFICERS ON THE BASIS OF QUESTIONNAIRES THAT ARE EXECUTED AND RETURNED TO YOUR OFFICE BY SUCH SUPPLIERS. IT IS REPORTED THAT THE CONTRACTING OFFICER MADE A REVIEW OF THE QUESTIONNAIRE FURNISHED BY CONSOLIDATED SYSTEMS.
B-134643, DEC. 18, 1957
TO HONORABLE RAYMOND BLATTENBERGER:
REFERENCE IS MADE TO YOUR LETTER OF DECEMBER 11, 1957, WITH ENCLOSURES, REQUESTING A DECISION AS TO THE ACTION TO BE TAKEN CONCERNING AN ERROR WHICH CONSOLIDATED BUSINESS SYSTEMS, INC., ALLEGES IT MADE IN THE SUBMISSION OF ITS BID FOR FURNISHING 61,001 SETS OF 7 PART CONTINUOUS, FANFOLD FORMS TO THE GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE.
IT APPEARS THAT CONSOLIDATED BUSINESS SYSTEMS, INC., WAS NOTIFIED ON DECEMBER 4, 1957, BY THE CONTRACTING OFFICER THAT IT WOULD RECEIVE THE AWARD. ON DECEMBER 6, 1957, THE WASHINGTON REPRESENTATIVE OF THE BIDDER ADVISED THE CONTRACTING OFFICER BY TELEPHONE THAT THEIR QUOTATION HAD BEEN SUBMITTED IN ERROR BECAUSE THE FIRM DOES NOT HAVE FANFOLD EQUIPMENT OF ANY KIND THAT WOULD PRODUCE THE WORK DESCRIBED IN THE SPECIFICATIONS. LETTER OF THE SAME DATE THE FIRM CONFIRMED THE ALLEGATION OF ERROR, RETURNED THE NOTICE OF AWARD, AND REQUESTED THAT IT BE RELIEVED OF ITS CONTRACT.
IT IS UNDERSTOOD THAT THE QUALIFICATIONS OF POTENTIAL SUPPLIERS OF PRINTED FORMS TO YOUR OFFICE ARE DETERMINED BY THE PROCUREMENT OFFICERS ON THE BASIS OF QUESTIONNAIRES THAT ARE EXECUTED AND RETURNED TO YOUR OFFICE BY SUCH SUPPLIERS. IN THIS CONNECTION, IT IS REPORTED THAT THE CONTRACTING OFFICER MADE A REVIEW OF THE QUESTIONNAIRE FURNISHED BY CONSOLIDATED SYSTEMS, INC., WHICH INDICATED THAT THE FIRM COULD PRODUCE THE REQUIRED FANFOLD FORMS. HOWEVER, A FURTHER EXAMINATION OF THE QUESTIONNAIRE REVEALED THAT THEIR EQUIPMENT ACTUALLY WAS NOT CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A 7-PART FANFOLD FORM WITH A DETACHED SIZE OF 8 BY 5 1/4 INCHES, AS CALLED FOR BY THE SPECIFICATIONS. ON THE BASIS OF THIS FINDING, THE CONTRACTING OFFICER HAS CONCLUDED THAT THE BID OF CONSOLIDATED SYSTEMS, INC., IS ERRONEOUS AND HE RECOMMENDS THAT THE AWARD TO THE FIRM BE CANCELED.
SINCE THERE APPEARS LITTLE DOUBT THAT THE COMPANY DOES NOT POSSESS EQUIPMENT THAT WILL PRODUCE THE REQUIRED SUPPLIES, THE RECORD IS SUFFICIENTLY CONVINCING TO JUSTIFY CANCELLATION OF THE NOTICE OF AWARD WITHOUT LIABILITY TO THE COMPANY.
WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE LETTER OF DECEMBER 6, 1957, FROM CONSOLIDATED SYSTEMS, INC., THE PAPERS TRANSMITTED WITH YOUR LETTER ARE RETURNED.