The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-05-08
FURNISHING MAIL LOCKS AND KEYS.
PosT OFFICE DEPARTMENT,
MARCH IA, 1851.

80 49, --N'Ns
MARCH IA, 1851.
TT BEING DESIRABLE to substitute locks and
keys of some other kind for those now in use for
the mail service of the United States, specimen
locks and keys with proposals to furnish the same,
will be received and considered ut the Post Office
Department until the first day of July next. The
different locks will be submitted to commission
| for examination and report. Upon this report,
contracts will, as soon practicable, be entered
into for furnishing such locks and keys for four
years, with the right the part Of the Postmaster
General for the time being to extend and continue
the contract in force for additional term Of four
years, by giving to the contractor written notice
TO that effect, not more than nine nor less than six
months before the termination of the first term Of
| four years.
| With view of procuring the best lock at the
| lowest price, no kind of lock is prescribed as
standard, the Department relying for selection
on the mechanical skill and in genuity which fair
competition, now invited, may develop. 1t is, how
ever, proper to state. that lock suitable for the
mail service should possess the following quail
ties, viz durability, uniformity, ightncss, and
| strength.
| For the purpose of displacng simultaneously all
| the mail locks and keys now in use, about thirty
thousand new locks and twenty thousand keys
adapted thereto will be required 10 be furnished by
the contractor within seven months after the con-
tract shall have been entered into; afterwards the
annual supply will depend the durability Of the
locks and keys adopted as 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 IL it be like any al
ready in general use; nor 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-
tracted for for any other purpose than that of
| the Post Office Department.
The kind of lock adopted must be patented, and
the patentee will be required on 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 case of
the failure Of the contractor at any time to fulfil
faithfully the terms and conditions of his contract
the Postmaster General shall have the right, be-
sides resort to the penal remedy hereinafter men,
toned, to annul said contract and to contract
with any other party parties IA he may ft for
furnishing similar locks and keys.
In deciding upon the proposals and specimens
offered, the Postmaster General may deem it expo
bidder, and for the way mails that of another. He
reserves, therefore, the right of contracting with
different individuals for such different kinds of
locks as he may select, and also the right to reject
all the specimens and proposals, if he shall deem
that course 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 a faithful performance
Of the contract. The contract is to contain prov-
sons for the due and proper inspection of the locks
and keys, and also for arding against their pass
ing into improper hands, the terms of these provi-
sons to be arranged between the Department and
No application will be considered if not accom-
panied with satisfactory evidence of the trustwor-
thy character Of the bidder, and of his ability to
fulfil the contract
NIX. HALL, Postmaster General.
Mar 17--lawtiy1 iHo