The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-05-26
FunSIsaIsc MAIL LOCKS AND KEYS.
Posr OFFICE DEPARTMENT..
Manru IL 1851

Posr OFFICE DEPARTMENT..
MAncH IA, 1851.
VT BEING DESIRABLE to substitute locks ane
KEYS of some other kind for those now in use io
the mail service Of the United States, specimen
locks and keys, with proposals to FURNISH the same
will be received and considered at the Post Otlc'
Department until the first day Of July next. Tn,
different locks will be submitted to q commission
for examination and report Upon this report
contracts will, as soon as practicable, be entered
into for furnishing such locks and keys for fou
years, with the right the part Of the Postnaste
General for the time being to extend and continu
the contract in force for additional term of fou
years, by giving to the contractor written notice
TO that effect not more than nine nor less than Ell,
months before the termination of the first term o
four years
With view of procuring the best lock at the
lowest price, no kind of lock ia prescribed as a
standard; the Department relying for selection
on the mechanical skill and ingenuity which fair
competition, now invited, may develop. IL IS, how
ever, proper TO state. that lock suitable Tor the
mail service should possess the following quaii,
ties, viz durability, uniformity, bghtness, and
strength. .
For the purpose of displacing simultaneously all
the mail locks and keys now in use, about thirty
thousand new locks and twenty thousand keys
adapted thereto will be required to be furnished by
the contractor within seven months after the con-
tract shall have been entered into afterwards the
annual supply will depend on the durability of the
locks and keys adopted, rs well as the increase OF
the mail service but it will probably never exceed
in amount three thousand of the former and one
thousand of the latter.
No lock will be considered if it be like any al
ready in general use; will any one with whom
the contract may be made be allowed to make, sell,
or furnish any lock or key similar to those con-
traced for for any other purpose use than that OF
the Post Office Department.
The kind of lock adopted must be patented, and
the patentce will be required, entering into con-
tract, to make assignment Of his patent for the
exclusive and benefit of the Department, if the
Postmaster General shall deem such requirement
essential to the interests of the service. In OF
the failure of the contractor at any time to fulfil
faithfully the and conditions of his contract,
the Postmaster General shall have the right, be-
sides resort to the penal remedy hereinafter men,
toned annui said contract, and to contract
with any other party parties he may see fit, for
furnishing similar locks and keys.
la deciding upon the proposals and specimens
offered, the Postmaster General may deem it expe-
dent select for the through mails the lock of
bidder, and for the way mails that of another. He
reserves therefore, the right of contracting with
different individuals for such different kinds OF
all the specimens and proposals, if he shall deem
that for the interest of the Department. The
party or parties contracting will be required to
give bond, with ample security, in the sum Of
thirty thousand dollars, for faithful performance
of the contract. The contract is to contain provi-
sions for the due and proper inspection of the locks
and keys, and also for guarding against their pass
ing into improper hands; the terms of these prov
sions to be arranged between the Department ane
the successful bidder if bid should be accepted.
No application will be considered if not accom-
panied with satisfactory evidence Of the trustwor
thy character of the bidder, and of his ability t
fulfil the contract.
N. X. HALL, Postmaster General.
Mar l7-lawtjyl