B-135698, APR. 10, 1958

GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: REFERENCE IS MADE TO YOUR LETTER OF MARCH 31. YOU STATE THAT WHEN THE BIDS WERE EXAMINED BY THE CONTRACTING OFFICER. HE NOTED THAT THE BID OF $658.80 FROM THE COMPANY WAS PROBABLY AN ERROR BECAUSE THE BID WAS SO MUCH LOWER THAN THE NEXT LOW BID OF $1. A TELEGRAM WAS FORWARDED TO THE COMPANY REQUESTING THEM TO REVIEW THE SPECIFICATION AND TO CONFIRM THEIR BID PRICE ON THIS JOB. THAT THE COMPANY REPLIED BY TELEPHONE ON THE SAME DAY AND REPORTED THAT THEIR QUOTATION SHOULD HAVE BEEN $12.40 PER THOUSAND INSTEAD OF $5.40 PER THOUSAND. THAT THE COMPANY EXPLAINED THE ONLY REASON THEY COULD GIVE FOR THE ERROR IS THAT. WHEN TYPING THE QUOTATION FORM THE BARE STOCK COST OF $5.40 PER THOUSAND WAS PICKED UP INSTEAD OF THE TOTAL COST OF $12.40 PER THOUSAND.