B-128911, AUG. 17, 1956

B-128911, AUG. 17, 1956

TO JEROME C. HUNSAKER, CHAIRMAN, NATIONAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR AERONAUTICS:

REFERENCE IS MADE TO A LETTER DATED AUGUST 8, 1956, FROM THE EXECUTIVE OFFICER, REQUESTING A DECISION AS TO THE ACTION TO BE TAKEN RELATIVE TO AN ERROR ALLEGED BY KOPPERS COMPANY, INC., BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, TO HAVE BEEN MADE IN ITS BID SUBMITTED IN RESPONSE TO INVITATION NO. L-8122 ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR AERONAUTICS FOR FURNISHING A PISTON AND RING ASSEMBLY (ITEM NO. 1) AND PISTON RINGS (ITEMS NOS. 2, 3 AND 4).

IN RESPONSE TO THE INVITATION, KOPPERS COMPANY, INC., SUBMITTED BIDS ON THE FOUR ITEMS, INCLUDING A BID OF $1,575 ON ITEM NO. 1. THE FILE SHOWS THAT, ALTHOUGH BIDS WERE SOLICITED FROM 22 FIRMS, THE ONLY OTHER BID RECEIVED WAS IN THE AMOUNT OF $15,000 ON ITEM NO. 1, NO OTHER BID BEING RECEIVED ON ITEMS NOS. 2, 3 AND 4. IT IS REPORTED THAT YOUR COMMITTEE'S ESTIMATE OF THE COST OF THE WORK WAS $10,000. UPON THE OPENING OF BIDS ON JULY 24, 1956, KOPPERS COMPANY, INC., WAS REQUESTED TO VERIFY ITS BID ON ITEM NO. 1 BECAUSE OF THE GREAT DISPARITY BETWEEN ITS BID AND THE OTHER BID RECEIVED. IN ITS LETTER DATED JULY 25, 1956, KOPPERS COMPANY, INC., STATED THAT ITS BID ON ITEM NO. 1 SHOULD BE $7,575 INSTEAD OF $1,575, ALLEGING THAT THE MISTAKE IN ITS BID RESULTED FROM A TYPOGRAPHICAL ERROR IN THE CARRY OVER PRICE FOR ITEM NO. 1 FROM THE ESTIMATE SHEET TO THE BID FORM. THE BIDDER FURNISHED A PHOTOSTATIC COPY OF ITS ORIGINAL ESTIMATE SHEET SHOWING THAT ITS INTENDED BID WAS IN THE AMOUNT OF $7,575 AND REQUESTED PERMISSION TO WITHDRAW THE BID OR THAT CORRECTION BE PERMITTED.

IN VIEW OF THE FACTS AS REPORTED AND SHOWN BY THE FILE, IT MAY BE REGARDED AS CONVINCINGLY ESTABLISHED THAT KOPPERS COMPANY, INC., MADE A BONA FIDE ERROR IN ITS BID, AS ALLEGED AND EXPLAINED BY IT, AND THAT THE INTENDED AMOUNT OF THE BID WAS AS SHOWN ON THE ESTIMATE SHEET SUBMITTED. CORRECTION MAY BE PERMITTED AS REQUESTED.