B-136423, JUN. 23, 1958

B-136423, JUN. 23, 1958

TO HONORABLE RAYMOND BLATTENBERGER:

REFERENCE IS MADE TO YOUR LETTER OF JUNE 11, 1958, WITH ENCLOSURES, REQUESTING A DECISION AS TO THE ACTION TO BE TAKEN CONCERNING AN ERROR THE SCHOEN PRINTING COMPANY ALLEGES IT MADE ON ITS BID DATED MAY 28, 1958.

IT APPEARS THAT ON MAY 22, 1958, YOUR OFFICE ADVERTISED FOR PRICES FOR THE PRODUCTION OF 3,682 BOOKS, EACH CONSISTING OF 64 PAGES, A COVER AND A SET OF SOIL MAPS (29 TO A SET), TRIM SIZE 9 1/8 BY 11 INCHES, SHIPMENT TO BE COMPLETED ON OR BEFORE JULY 14, 1958. IN RESPONSE THE SCHOEN PRINTING COMPANY SUBMITTED A BID OF $768. THREE OTHER BIDS RECEIVED RANGED IN PRICE FROM $1,195 TO $1,713.15.

YOU STATE THAT ON JUNE 4, 1958, BEFORE THE CONTRACTING OFFICER EXAMINED THE BIDS, MR. STEIN, THE PRESIDENT OF THE COMPANY, TELEPHONED AND ADVISED THAT THE COMPANY'S BID WAS IN ERROR; THAT HE HAD INCORRECTLY TOTALED HIS ESTIMATE SHEET; AND THAT HIS BID SHOULD HAVE BEEN $868 INSTEAD OF $768, AS QUOTED. IN A LETTER OF THE SAME DATE THE COMPANY CONFIRMED ITS TELEPHONE CONVERSATION WITH THE CONTRACTING OFFICER AND REQUESTED THAT IT BE ALLOWED TO INCREASE ITS BID BY THE AMOUNT OF THE ERROR, $100. ALSO, THE COMPANY ADVISED THE CONTRACTING OFFICER THAT ITS BID HAD BEEN FIGURED VERY CLOSELY AND THAT IT COULD NOT ABSORB THE $100 DIFFERENCE. WITH THIS LETTER THE COMPANY FORWARDED ITS ESTIMATE SHEET WHICH SHOWS THAT THE ITEMS WERE ORIGINALLY TOTALED AS $868 BUT THE TOTAL WAS LATER CHANGED TO $768.

ON THE RECORD, THERE IS NO ROOM FOR DOUBT THAT AN ERROR WAS MADE IN THE BID. IN VIEW OF THIS FACT AND SINCE THE SCHOEN PRINTING COMPANY NOTIFIED THE CONTRACTING OFFICER OF THE ERROR SHORTLY AFTER THE BIDS WERE OPENED AND PRIOR TO AWARD, ITS BID MAY BE DISREGARDED.

THE PAPERS, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE COMPANY'S LETTER OF JUNE 4, 1958, ARE RETURNED AS REQUESTED.