B-133920, OCT. 2, 1957

B-133920, OCT. 2, 1957

TO MR. W. C. EVANS, CONTRACTING OFFICER, UNITED STATES FOREST SERVICE, NORTHERN REGION:

REFERENCE IS MADE TO YOUR LETTER OF SEPTEMBER 27, 1957, WITH ENCLOSURES, REQUESTING A DECISION AS TO THE ACTION TO BE TAKEN CONCERNING AN ERROR WHICH THE CONSOLIDATED SUPPLY COMPANY, SPOKANE, WASHINGTON, ALLEGES WAS MADE IN ITS BID OPENED ON SEPTEMBER 20, 1957.

BY INVITATION NO. S-9-58, THE UNITED STATES FOREST SERVICE, PROCUREMENT AND SUPPLY DIVISION, SPOKANE, WASHINGTON, REQUESTED BIDS FOR FURNISHING, AMONG OTHER ITEMS, 1,176 FEET OF 3 INCH GALVANIZED STEEL PIPE, ITEM 1. RESPONSE THE CONSOLIDATED SUPPLY COMPANY SUBMITTED A BID DATED SEPTEMBER 19, 1957, OFFERING TO FURNISH, AMONG OTHERS, THE GALVANIZED PIPE UNDER ITEM 1 AT A PRICE OF $0.5787 PER FOOT. THE FIVE OTHER BIDS ON ITEM 1 SPECIFIED PRICES RANGING FROM $1 TO $1.396 PER FOOT.

UPON BEING REQUESTED TO VERIFY ITS BID PRICE ON ITEM 1, THE COMPANY SUBMITTED A REVISED QUOTATION DATED SEPTEMBER 24, 1957, IN WHICH IT OFFERED TO FURNISH THE 3 INCH GALVANIZED PIPE COVERED BY ITEM 1 AT A PRICE OF $1.1186 PER FOOT. IN A TELEGRAM DATED SEPTEMBER 27, 1957, THE COMPANY ADVISED THE CONTRACTING OFFICER THAT IN ITS ORIGINAL BID IT HAD INADVERTENTLY QUOTED THE PRICE OF 2 INCH GALVANIZED PIPE.

ON THE RECORD, THERE IS NO ROOM FOR DOUBT THAT THE COMPANY MADE AN ERROR IN ITS BID, AS ALLEGED. ACCORDINGLY, THE BID OF THE CONSOLIDATED SUPPLY COMPANY AS TO ITEM 1 SHOULD BE DISREGARDED IN MAKING THE AWARD.