B-145089, MAR. 3, 1961

B-145089, MAR. 3, 1961

TO MR. C. S. KOONS, CHIEF, MARKETING DIVISION, LABORATORY AND PMR SUPPLY, VETERANS ADMINISTRATION SUPPLY DEPOT:

WE REFER TO YOUR LETTER OF FEBRUARY 14, 1961 (REF 134P) WITH ENCLOSURES, SUBMITTING FOR DECISION THE QUESTION WHETHER SCHAAR AND COMPANY MAY WITHDRAW ITS BID PRIOR TO AWARD UNDER INVITATION FOR BIDS NO. M7-92-61.

THE INVITATION WAS ISSUED ON JANUARY 17, 1961, BY THE VETERANS ADMINISTRATION SUPPLY DEPOT, HINES, ILLINOIS, CALLING FOR SPECIMEN BOTTLES AND PAPER CUPS, SPECIMEN, WITH LID, ALL LISTED UNDER ITEMS NOS. 1 THROUGH 6. BIDS WERE OPENED ON FEBRUARY 7, 1961, AND THE ABSTRACT OF BIDS SHOWS THAT FOUR BIDDERS SUBMITTED BIDS AS FOLLOWS:

CHART.

ITEM NO. (UNIT PRICE)

1 2 3 4 5 6 SCHAAR AND COMPANY $8.11 $8.11 $8.55 $8.11 $4.45 $4.02 OTHER BIDDERS 9.30 9.30 9.30 9.30 7.17 6.46

DO. 8.204 7.988 8.888 8.088 8.225 5.6075

DO. 8.596 8.38 9.28 8.48 9.905 6.24

IT IS REPORTED THAT UPON EXAMINATION OF THE ABSTRACT, THE ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER SUSPECTED THAT SCHAAR AND COMPANY HAD MADE AN ERROR IN ITS BID ON ITEMS NOS. 5 AND 6 AND POSSIBLY ON ITEMS NOS. 1 AND 3. THE BIDDER WAS CONTACTED ON FEBRUARY 7, 1961, ABOUT THE POSSIBLE ERRORS IN BID.

BY LETTER OF FEBRUARY 9, 1961, SCHAAR AND COMPANY RESPONDED TO THE EFFECT THAT IT HAD MADE AN ERROR IN BID ON ITEMS NOS. 1 THROUGH 6. IT FURNISHED A PHOTOCOPY OF THE ALLEGED WORKSHEET THE BIDDER USED IN QUOTING PRICES ON ITEMS NO. 1 THROUGH 6. THE LEFT HAND SIDE OF THE WORKSHEET CONTAINS WRITTEN FIGURES OF 847 AND 593, WHICH THE BIDDER STATES TO BE ITS COST FIGURES FOR THE ITEMS ($8.47 PER PACKAGE UNIT FOR ITEMS NOS.1, 2, 3, 4 AND $5.93 PER CARTON UNIT FOR ITEMS NOS. 5 AND 6.)

THE RECORD SHOWS THAT UPON REQUEST FOR CONFIRMATION OF ITS BID, SCHAAR AND COMPANY ALLEGED ERROR AND FURNISHED EVIDENCE IN SUPPORT THEREOF. UNDER SUCH CIRCUMSTANCES AND SINCE THE ERROR HAS BEEN ALLEGED PRIOR TO AWARD, THE BID OF SCHAAR AND COMPANY SHOULD BE DISREGARDED IN MAKING AN AWARD UNDER THE SUBJECT INVITATION. SEE 36 COMP. GEN. 441.