Transactions of the International Engineering Congress, 1915 Volume 1, PT. 1 (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1916 Excerpt: ...product will meet the needs, and. in such cases, the demand for articles to meet special specifications adds materially to the price and delivery. The increased price is in many cases not an equivalent of the increased value of the article, for as every manufacturer knows, even a slight change in manufacture, disarranges schedules and upsets the routine work of factory and shop, and this disarrangement is reflected in the price of the material. Moreover, standard products are the result of long experience, and their methods of manufacture are reduced to a routine which enables their production at a minimum price. It is not intended that material should be purchased without specifications, but with almost every article there are certain standard methods of manufacture which can be readily specified and which will permit competition from several responsible firms. The contract clauses should be so drawn as to protect the contractor as well as the government. Too many government officials adopt the principle that a contract is for the benefit and protection of the government only. If a bidder in preparing his prices realizes that his rights, if a contract is entered into, are not fully guaranteed, he will increase his tender accordingly. On the other hand, if he sees that his interests are thoroughly protected under the terms of the contract, he will reduce his price to the minimum. It would therefore appear that in the end it is to the interest of the government to give full protection under the terms of the contract to the contractor. Care should be taken so far as practicable to include no unnecessary or uncertain conditions, either in the specification or in the terms covering the performance of the contract. One of the most frequent complaints received fr...