B-131795, MAY 15, 1957
Highlights
BUILDING 53: REFERENCE IS MADE TO YOUR LETTER DATED MAY 8. 476-A BIDS WERE REQUESTED ON THE BASIS OF A LUMP-SUM AMOUNT FOR THREE DISCONNECTING SWITCHES. TEN BIDS WERE RECEIVED IN RESPONSE TO THE INVITATION. THE NEXT LOW BIDS WERE $743 AND $870. THE GOVERNMENT'S ESTIMATE OF COST IS $900. THE COMPANY STATED THAT ITS BID OF $285 WAS FOR ONLY ONE SWITCH AND THAT THE TOTAL LUMP-SUM PRICE FOR THE THREE SWITCHES SHOULD BE $855. THERE IS NO ROOM FOR DOUBT THAT THE COMPANY MADE AN ERROR IN ITS BID. SINCE THE APPARENT ERROR WAS NOTICED BY THE CONTRACTING OFFICER AND. THE ERROR WAS CONFIRMED AND SATISFACTORILY EXPLAINED PRIOR TO AWARD.
B-131795, MAY 15, 1957
TO MR. J. C. KIMBALL, CONTRACTING OFFICER, BUREAU OF RECLAMATION, BUILDING 53:
REFERENCE IS MADE TO YOUR LETTER DATED MAY 8, 1957, WITH ENCLOSURES, REQUESTING A DECISION AS TO THE ACTION TO BE TAKEN CONCERNING AN ERROR ROYAL ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING COMPANY, INC., ALLEGES IT MADE IN ITS BID OPENED ON MARCH 22, 1957.
BY INVITATION NO. (D) A-68,476-A BIDS WERE REQUESTED ON THE BASIS OF A LUMP-SUM AMOUNT FOR THREE DISCONNECTING SWITCHES. TEN BIDS WERE RECEIVED IN RESPONSE TO THE INVITATION, WHICH RANGE FROM THE LOW BID OF $285 FROM ROYAL ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING COMPANY, INC., TO A HIGH OF $1,152. THE NEXT LOW BIDS WERE $743 AND $870. THE GOVERNMENT'S ESTIMATE OF COST IS $900. THE CONTRACTING OFFICER REQUESTED THE COMPANY TO VERIFY ITS BID. LETTER OF APRIL 10, 1957, THE COMPANY STATED THAT ITS BID OF $285 WAS FOR ONLY ONE SWITCH AND THAT THE TOTAL LUMP-SUM PRICE FOR THE THREE SWITCHES SHOULD BE $855.
ON THE RECORD, THERE IS NO ROOM FOR DOUBT THAT THE COMPANY MADE AN ERROR IN ITS BID, AS ALLEGED. ACCORDINGLY, SINCE THE APPARENT ERROR WAS NOTICED BY THE CONTRACTING OFFICER AND, UPON REQUEST FOR VERIFICATION, THE ERROR WAS CONFIRMED AND SATISFACTORILY EXPLAINED PRIOR TO AWARD, THE BID OF ROYAL ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING COMPANY, INC., SHOULD BE DISREGARDED.