B-136676, JUL. 18, 1958

B-136676, JUL. 18, 1958

TO THE SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR:

REFERENCE IS MADE TO LETTER DATED JUNE 30, 1958, WITH ENCLOSURES, FROM THE ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT, WHO REQUESTS A DECISION WHETHER THE BID OF ELDER TRAILER AND BODY, INC., DENVER, COLORADO, SHOULD BE DISREGARDED BECAUSE OF AN ERROR IN THE BID PRICE IT ALLEGED AT THE BID OPENING.

IN RESPONSE TO BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT INVITATION NO. 58-94, ELDER TRAILER AND BODY, INC., BID AS FOLLOWS:

CHART

ITEM NO. AMOUNT

1. 19 FOOT HOUSE TRAILER

F.O.B. ALBUQUERQUE, N. MEX. $3,570

2. 30 FOOT CAMP TRAILER

F.O.B. SOCORRO, N. MEX. 3,598

3. 30 FOOT CAMP TRAILER

F.O.B. CASPER, WYO. 6,440

4. 30 FOOT CAMP TRAILER

F.O.B. PINEDALE, WYO. 6,487

AT THE BID OPENING, A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE BIDDER ALLEGED AN ERROR IN BID AND PRODUCED A WORKSHEET WHICH INDICATED THAT THE PRICE ON ITEM 2 WAS BASED ON A 19-FOOT INSTEAD OF A 30-FOOT TRAILER. SUBSEQUENTLY AT YOUR REQUEST AND IN SUPPORT OF ITS ALLEGED ERROR, THE BIDDER SUBMITTED AN AFFIDAVIT FROM ITS PRESIDENT AND VERIFIED ITS WORKSHEET UNDER OATH. THE AFFIDAVIT, IT IS STATED THAT THE BID ON ITEM 2 WAS BASED ON A 19-FOOT TRAILER AND THAT THE DIFFERENCE IN PRICE BETWEEN ITEM 1, WHICH CALLED FOR A 19-FOOT TRAILER, AND ITEM 2 IS THE DIFFERENCE IN DELIVERY COST TO DIFFERENT DESTINATIONS. AN EXAMINATION OF THE FACE OF THE BID SHOWS THAT THE PRICE FOR ITEM 2 IS OUT OF LINE WITH THE PRICE FOR THE OTHER 30-FOOT TRAILERS REQUIRED UNDER ITEMS 3 AND 4 AND IS IN LINE WITH THE PRICE FOR THE 19-FOOT TRAILER REQUIRED UNDER ITEM 1.

SINCE EVIDENCE ESTABLISHES THAT THE BIDDER MADE AN ERROR IN ITS PRICE QUOTATION ON ITEM 2, THE BID SHOULD BE DISREGARDED IN MAKING AN AWARD UNDER THE SUBJECT INVITATION.