B-152228, NOV. 15, 1963
Highlights
WELFARE: REFERENCE IS MADE TO LETTER DATED AUGUST 30. ENCLOSED IS A COPY OF OUR LETTER OF TODAY TO THE PROTESTANT DENYING THE PROTEST. THAT AN ATTEMPT SHOULD HAVE BEEN MADE TO STATE A BASIS FOR EVALUATION IN THE INVITATION FOR BIDS. IT WOULD APPEAR THAT INFORMATION ON WORK PERFORMED UNDER THE PRECEDING CONTRACT COULD HAVE BEEN SECURED FROM THE RECORDS OF THE DEPARTMENT OR FROM THE PREVIOUS CONTRACTOR. AS WAS DONE AFTER THE BID OPENING. IF THESE FIGURES WERE NOT OF VALUE IN FORECASTING THE PROBABLE AMOUNT OF WORK UNDER THE NEW CONTRACT. THEY DID HAVE SOME VALUE IN EVALUATING THE BIDS. WITH REFERENCE TO THE STATEMENT IN THE STAFF REPORT THAT THE CONTRACTING OFFICER WOULD HAVE HAD TO AMEND THE INVITATION FOR BIDS IN ORDER TO MAKE ANY ADDITIONAL FACTUAL INFORMATION AVAILABLE TO ALL PROSPECTIVE BIDDERS.
B-152228, NOV. 15, 1963
TO THE SECRETARY OF HEALTH, EDUCATION, AND WELFARE:
REFERENCE IS MADE TO LETTER DATED AUGUST 30, 1963, FROM THE ACTING ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT SECRETARY, FORWARDING A REPORT ON THE BID PROTEST OF MANPOWER, INC., IN CONNECTION WITH INVITATION FOR BIDS NO. SA-5-64.
ENCLOSED IS A COPY OF OUR LETTER OF TODAY TO THE PROTESTANT DENYING THE PROTEST. WE BELIEVE, HOWEVER, THAT AN ATTEMPT SHOULD HAVE BEEN MADE TO STATE A BASIS FOR EVALUATION IN THE INVITATION FOR BIDS. IT WOULD APPEAR THAT INFORMATION ON WORK PERFORMED UNDER THE PRECEDING CONTRACT COULD HAVE BEEN SECURED FROM THE RECORDS OF THE DEPARTMENT OR FROM THE PREVIOUS CONTRACTOR, AS WAS DONE AFTER THE BID OPENING. IF THESE FIGURES WERE NOT OF VALUE IN FORECASTING THE PROBABLE AMOUNT OF WORK UNDER THE NEW CONTRACT, THEY DID HAVE SOME VALUE IN EVALUATING THE BIDS.
WITH REFERENCE TO THE STATEMENT IN THE STAFF REPORT THAT THE CONTRACTING OFFICER WOULD HAVE HAD TO AMEND THE INVITATION FOR BIDS IN ORDER TO MAKE ANY ADDITIONAL FACTUAL INFORMATION AVAILABLE TO ALL PROSPECTIVE BIDDERS, SUCH ACTION IS NOT ONLY PROPER BUT DESIRABLE, WHERE THE INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE PRIOR TO BID OPENING AND IF IT WILL MATERIALLY ASSIST THE BIDDER IN SUBMITTING A WELL-CONSIDERED BID.