B-145249, JUN. 13, 1961

B-145249, JUN. 13, 1961

TO THE WASHINGTON SHADE AND AWNING COMPANY:

REFERENCE IS MADE TO YOUR LETTER OF MARCH 7, 1961, PROTESTING THE AWARD OF ANY CONTRACT UNDER INVITATION FOR BIDS ISSUED BY GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION ON FEBRUARY 7, 1961, FOR FURNISHING AND INSTALLING VENETIAN BLINDS IN FEDERAL OFFICE BUILDING NO. 6 AT MARYLAND AVENUE, 4TH, 6TH AND ,C" STREETS, S.W., WASHINGTON, D.C.

BIDDERS WERE REQUESTED TO SUBMIT BIDS FOR TWO TYPES OF VENETIAN BLINDS. BASE BID NO. 1 COVERED THE FURNISHING OF SINGLE-ARC TYPE OF VENETIAN BLINDS. BASE BID NO. 2 COVERED THE FURNISHING OF DOUBLE-ARC TYPE OF VENETIAN BLINDS. UNDER EACH BASE BID BIDDERS WERE REQUESTED TO QUOTE AMOUNTS TO BE DEDUCTED FOR THE OMISSION OF CERTAIN FEATURES. YOUR PROTEST IS DIRECTED TO THE ALLEGEDLY RESTRICTIVE FEATURES OF THE DOUBLE-ARC VENETIAN BLINDS UNDER BASE BID NO. 2.

IN A REPORT DATED MAY 26, 1961, THE ADMINISTRATOR, GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION, STATES THAT WHEN THE SPECIFICATIONS WERE BEING PREPARED IT WAS KNOWN THAT ONLY LIMITED FUNDS WOULD BE AVAILABLE FOR THIS PHASE OF THE PROJECT. THEREFORE, WHILE THE DOUBLE-ARC VENETIAN BLIND WAS CONSIDERED HIGHLY DESIRABLE TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE GOVERNMENT, BUDGETARY CONSIDERATIONS MADE IT NECESSARY TO PROVIDE AN OPTION FOR THE MOST COMMON AND LEAST EXPENSIVE VENETIAN BLIND (SINGLE-ARC TYPE) AVAILABLE TO PROVIDE FOR THE EVENTUALITY THAT ONLY THE VERY MINIMUM NEEDS OF THE GOVERNMENT COULD BE MET WITH AVAILABLE FUNDS. SINCE THE DATE BIDS WERE OPENED ON THIS PROJECT, GSA HAS BEEN ADVISED THAT FUNDS FOR FOR THE DOUBLE-ARC VENETIAN BLINDS WOULD NOT BE AVAILABLE. THE GSA BOARD OF AWARD ACCORDINGLY HAS RECOMMENDED THAT THE LOW BID UNDER BASE BID NO. 1-A LESS ALTERNATES 1-C AND 1-E BE ACCEPTED.

SINCE THE PROPOSED CONTRACT WILL NOT INVOLVE THE FURNISHING OF DOUBLE-ARC VENETIAN BLINDS, IT BECOMES UNNECESSARY TO CONSIDER YOUR ALLEGATION AS TO THE RESTRICTIVE FEATURES OF THESE BLINDS INCORPORATED IN THE SPECIFICATIONS.