Evening star., 1955-07-11
School Buying
Being Reviewed
In Montgomery
Furniture Contracts
Stir Dispute Between
Reese and Boord

NSSSe OOQ DOUI0
Montgomery County's Board
of Education is reviewing its
purchasing procedures as they
affect the buying of school fur
Initure. according to Brian M.
Benson, the boards director of
finance.
The review stems from the re-
cent awarding of $150.000 in
furniture contracts-an episode
marked by differences between
the school administration and
County Manager M. L. Reese and
by behind-the-scenes criticism
of the boards procedures by
furniture distributors.
AS of today, the rift between
Mr.. Reese and the board has not
been healed. It started in May
when Mr.. Reese tossed out bids
on school furniture on the
grounds they did not provide
for performance bonds by the
contractors.
Bonds Called For
He advertised for new bids
lstipulating that bonds must be
posted.
At the opening Of the second
set of bids, new differences
arose over the handling of bids
received late at the county
building. where bids were to be
directed under terms Of the bid
Offering.
The school board accepted the
late bids and by-passed the
county managers Office In
awarding the contracts. One of
the suppliers whose bid was re-
ceived late at the county build
ling won the lions share of the
contracts.
The late bids had been re-
ceived on time at the school ad-
ministration Office, where they
had been addressed by the bid
ders, according to Mr.. Benson.
Precedent Broken
Direct awarding of the furni-
ture contracts breaks the prece-
dent of having such contracts
awarded by the county purchas-
ing Office.
Mr.. Reese says he has re-
ceived no notice from the school
board that 1t intends to change
its stand in future contract
awards.
Mr.. Benson says the boards
review will be aimed at strength
ening specifications for school
furniture.
He adds that the board is
seeking a new purchasing agent
to succeed Mrs. Everett S. CORN
lley, who died several months
Iago. The new aide will be in
structed to do research Job on
the woods involved in school
desks, tables and chairs.
Choice of woods was the kew
factor in the principal award by
the board.
A $4,000 contract for chairs
and desks went to Flowers School
Equipment Co.. of Richmond,
Va. although it was not the low
Iest bidder. Its bid was one of
those addressed to the school
lofhce instead Of the county
building.
Based On Wood Type
MIR. Benson explained that on
the basis OF the original quanti-
ties ordered-the contract was
later raised-the Flowers firm
was 1891 higher than its nearest
competitor. The Flower furni-
ture was given preference because
It's furniture was built of maple,
while its competitors was made
Iof beech, which was described as
inferior to maple.
However. the specifications pro-
|vided the furniture could be made
of maple. birch or beech.
Rejection Of the first set OF
bids resulted In reduced bids by
the Flowers firm and other bid.
ders.
Another rejection of a low bic
involved teachers desks. A low
bid by the M. S. CHM CO., Wash.
ington, was passed over on the
grounds the second lowest bidder
the Baltimore Stationery Co. hac
offered a lower price on a desk.
chair combination.
Official Explanations
The official explanation by the
school administration said:
Specifications call for a com.
bination price on teachers desks
and chairs to provide matching
sets. M. S. CHM did not bid or
the teachers chairs. From oul
notes on the previous bid, which
was rejected. this firms bid or
the teachers chairs was high
making the combination highe,
than the other FIRMS"
The review of the awards
shows that the board will buy
1858 desks Of one type, IL desks
OF another type and only 14e
chairs.
Altogether, seven contracts
were awarded to other than low
bidders.
Flowers Equipment Co. Won on
low bids a $1,000 contract for
cafeteria chairs and $258 con-
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