Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1948 [PAGE 168]

EXTRACTED TEXT FROM PAGE:

i66

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

[November 22

I approve and recommend that the President and Secretary of the Board of Trustees be authorized to execute a contract with Clarence H . Siems in accordance with this proposal.

On motion of Mr. McKelvey, this contract was authorized as recommended.

BUILDING POLICY (5) T h e University of Illinois has a tremendous educational building program responsibility to the public and it is important that this be pushed as rapidly as possible. Experience has demonstrated that under present conditions it is practically impossible to obtain firm prices or lump-sum bids on building projects. If fixed bids are obtained, they are so high as to render the system of competitive bidding impracticable. The Physical Plant Department recommends continuing the use of the practice of the guaranteed maximum, plus fixed fee, form of contract which has been used for the past year or two. Under such form of contract the contractor assumes any cost beyond the guaranteed maximum, and any savings are divided between the contractor and the University. The Physical Plant Department has, therefore, proposed the following procedure: 1. T h e University will take fixed bids for an entire project on a guaranteed maximum, plus fixed fee, basis. 2. T h e University will take alternate bids to reduce the amount of the immediate contract to funds available, even though this will involve major portions of the contract in some cases. A clause will also be included giving the University the right to reinstate such omissions in the contract by August I, 1947. T h e award in general would be made on the lowest bid for the completed project. T h u s the University could enter into contracts within funds available and yet secure bids for a completed building, so that if additional funds are not provided the work will not proceed beyond the original contract. Present Federal regulations require government approval to begin construction. Priorities can be obtained by the University only on veteran housing projects. On all other projects the University can obtain "authorization to begin construction" if sufficient justification is shown. Regardless of the form of authorization, there is still the problem of securing materials and labor. T h e President of the University has authorized the Physical Plant Department to follow the policy and procedure outlined above for taking bids, provided that recommendations for awards of contracts shall be made through the usual channels as heretofore.

On motion of Dr. Meyer, the action of the President of the University in authorizing this procedure was approved and confirmed.

PURCHASES AUTHORIZED (6) T h e following purchases were recommended by the Purchasing Agent and authorized by the Comptroller. Unless otherwise specified the purchases were made on the basis of lowest bids, ceiling prices, or because the items are noncompetitive. Emergency action was necessary to secure delivery in time to meet specific needs or because prices quoted were subject to immediate acceptance.

Item One 13" x 30" center s'3* bed LeBlonde lathe complete with accessories and motor 251 cases Pyrex laboratory glassware Linen service One John Deere Model LI tractor, one 64* Burch straight blade reversible t r i p flow with hand hydraulic lift, one Henke small broom for LI tractor Department Undergraduate Division, Chicago General Chemical Stores Vendor Cost R. K. LeBlonde Machine $i 299 25 Tool Co., Cincinnati, Ohio E. H. Sargent & Co., Chicago, 141 cases Central Scientific Co., Chicago, 110 cases Church & Hoiles, Chicago 2 364 97

Undergraduate Division, Chicago Undergraduate Division, Chicago

1 896 07 3 000 00 (approximate) General Tractor & Equip1 420 30 ment Co., Chicago