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GGD-82-19 1 (1982-01-27)

handle is hein.gao/gaobabmqy0001 and id is 1 raw text is: Dl?~ I UNITED STATES GENERAL ACCOUNTING OFFICE WASHINGTON, D.C. 20548 - JAN 2 7.Jer M149 saEanWL @ ovNN SI VISION The Honorable Jackie A. Strange Assistant Postmaster General Procurement and Supply Department 119778 Dear Ms. Strange . . . Subject: The Postal Service Will Reduce . Body Armor Costs By Purchasing . . . Competitivelyi'(GGD-82-19) This report, one of a series addressing restrictive conditions and specifications in Postal Service procurements,. concerns the Inspection Service's purchase of soft body armor (vests) on a sole source basis. In fiscal year 1981, 297 vests- were purchased from Protective Materials Company, Inc., (PMI) for about $55,000. In fiscal year 1982, the Inspection Service plan- ned to purchase an additional 62 vests from PMI at a cost bf-. . about $11,600. Beginning in June 1981 we contacted Inspection Service officials to discuss the justification for purchasing body armor on a sole source basis. Later in June we informed Inspection Service officials that our preliminary data showed other sup- pliers were capable of meeting their armor requirements. We sug- gested that a planned procurement of 67 vests be delayed until this matter was resolved. The Inspection Service chose to con- sumate this purchase without delay, assuring us that technical data to support the sole source decision would be provided. Our subsequent review of this data did ndt support the Inspection Service's position. On December 15, 1981, we met with representatives of the Inspection Service and the Director, Office of Contracts, and discussed the following matters. BODY ARMOR WILL BE BOUGHT COMPETITIVELY There are many vests which provide the level of life protec- tion required by the Inspection Service. When the Service de- cided to go sole source in November 1980, there were 19 other models available which gave this basic protection. (See enclo- sure.) As shown below, even limiting the purchase to suppliers (019004) . 0 b, . (q -7 C',

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