B-148435, MAR. 30, 1962

B-148435, MAR. 30, 1962

TO ACTING REGIONAL DIRECTOR, BUREAU OF RECLAMATION, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR:

REFERENCE IS MADE TO YOUR LETTER OF MARCH 13, 1962, FILE 2-220, REQUESTING A DECISION AS TO THE ACTION TO BE TAKEN WITH REGARD TO THE BID MR. FRED GALANTE SUBMITTED IN RESPONSE TO AN INVITATION UNDER SPECIFICATIONS NO. 200C-490.

THE INVITATION REQUESTED BIDS--- TO BE OPENED FEBRUARY 20, 1962--- FOR ERECTING TWO STRAN-STEEL QUONSET BUILDINGS, GRADING AREA AND SURFACING ACCESS ROADS IN THE SAN LUIS UNIT, CENTRAL VALLEY PROJECT, CALIFORNIA. THE SCHEDULE OF THE WORK WAS DIVIDED INTO SIX ITEMS. THE LOW BID WAS SUBMITTED BY MR. FRED GALANTE IN THE AMOUNT OF $9,040. THE OTHER SEVEN BIDS RECEIVED RANGED FROM $11,627.65 TO $16,863. THE GOVERNMENT ESTIMATE FOR THE WORK WAS $12,825.

IT IS INDICATED IN YOUR TRANSMITTAL LETTER OF MARCH 13, 1962, THAT THE BUREAU REQUESTED MR. GALANTE TO CONFIRM ITS BID ON FEBRUARY 23, 1962. HIS LETTER OF REPLY DATED FEBRUARY 26, 1962, MR. GALANTE STATED THAT AS TO ITEM 6, WHICH CALLED FOR ERECTING TWO QUONSET HUTS, HIS QUOTATION OF $1,320 COVERED THE ERECTION OF ONLY ONE HUT AND THAT THE AMOUNT OF HIS BID SHOULD BE INCREASED BY $1,320. IN SUPPORT OF HIS ALLEGED MISTAKE MR. GALANTE FURNISHED A VERIFIED COPY OF HIS WORKSHEET WHICH TENDS TO SHOW THAT HIS LUMP SUM PRICE OF $1,320 COVERED THE ERECTION OF ONE HUT ONLY. THE GOVERNMENT ESTIMATE FOR ITEM 6 WAS $4,300. THE OTHER BIDS ON THIS ITEM RANGED FROM $3,722 TO $5,356.65.

SINCE ERROR WAS ALLEGED PROMPTLY BY MR. GALANTE UPON A REQUEST FOR VERIFICATION AND SINCE THE EVIDENCE OF RECORD REASONABLY ESTABLISHES THAT AN ERROR WAS IN FACT MADE, THE BID OF MR. GALANTE SHOULD BE DISREGARDED IN MAKING AWARD. THE BID MAY NOT BE CORRECTED AND CONSIDERED FOR AWARD SINCE THERE IS NO CLEAR SHOWING AS TO THE AMOUNT OF THE INTENDED BID.