B-143343, AUG. 2, 1960
Highlights
THE PROCUREMENT IN QUESTION WAS NOT SUBJECT TO THE COMPETITIVE BID PROCEDURES NORMALLY APPLICABLE TO PUBLIC PROCUREMENTS BECAUSE THE AMOUNT INVOLVED IS LESS THAN $2. WAS NOT AN INVITATION FOR BIDS. IT WAS INTENDED ONLY TO ELICIT INFORMATION. INTERESTED PARTIES WERE SPECIFICALLY ADVISED OF THIS BY THE FOLLOWING LANGUAGE APPEARING ON THE REQUEST FOR QUOTATION: "THIS IS A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION AND QUOTATIONS FURNISHED ARE NOT OFFERS.'. THERE IS NO BASIS UPON WHICH WE MAY TAKE EXCEPTION TO THE PROCUREMENT. WE HAVE BEEN ADVISED BY THE VETERANS ADMINISTRATION THAT WHILE YOUR PRICE WAS LOW. THE PRODUCT OFFERED BY YOU DID NOT HAVE A 12-INCH BACK REQUIRED UNDER THE SPECIFICATIONS TO FIT A SPECIFIC SPACE.
B-143343, AUG. 2, 1960
TO PEEBLES SUPPLY CORPORATION:
WE REFER AGAIN TO YOUR TELEGRAM OF JUNE 28, 1960, PROTESTING THE REJECTION OF YOUR QUOTATION FOR SERVICE SINKS FOR THE VETERANS ADMINISTRATION CENTER AT KECOUGHTAN, VIRGINIA.
THE PROCUREMENT IN QUESTION WAS NOT SUBJECT TO THE COMPETITIVE BID PROCEDURES NORMALLY APPLICABLE TO PUBLIC PROCUREMENTS BECAUSE THE AMOUNT INVOLVED IS LESS THAN $2,500. SEE 41 U.S. CODE 5. THE FORM ON WHICH YOU SUBMITTED YOUR QUOTATION ON JUNE 14, 1960, WAS NOT AN INVITATION FOR BIDS; IT WAS INTENDED ONLY TO ELICIT INFORMATION. INTERESTED PARTIES WERE SPECIFICALLY ADVISED OF THIS BY THE FOLLOWING LANGUAGE APPEARING ON THE REQUEST FOR QUOTATION: "THIS IS A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION AND QUOTATIONS FURNISHED ARE NOT OFFERS.'
ACCORDINGLY, THERE IS NO BASIS UPON WHICH WE MAY TAKE EXCEPTION TO THE PROCUREMENT.
FOR YOUR INFORMATION, WE HAVE BEEN ADVISED BY THE VETERANS ADMINISTRATION THAT WHILE YOUR PRICE WAS LOW, THE PRODUCT OFFERED BY YOU DID NOT HAVE A 12-INCH BACK REQUIRED UNDER THE SPECIFICATIONS TO FIT A SPECIFIC SPACE, AND THE USE OF SUCH PRODUCT WOULD HAVE NECESSITATED EXPENSIVE MODIFICATIONS.