Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1952 [PAGE 1164]

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UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

CONTRACT FOR EYE GLASSES PRESCRIBED AT THE ILLINOIS EYE A N D EAR INFIRMARY

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(17) The Vice-President in charge of the Chicago Professional Colleges and the Comptroller recommend award of a contract to the American Optical Company, Chicago, for the supplying of optical goods, services, and repairs on optical goods for resale to outpatients of the Illinois Eye and Ear Infirmary. The Illinois Eye and Ear Infirmary is operated jointly by the University of Illinois and the Department of Public Welfare under an agreement previously approved by the Board of Trustees. Until this year, collections from patients for eye glasses were handled by the Department of Public Welfare. The Department of Public Welfare had a contract with the American Optical Company to furnish the necessary optical goods. The Head of the Department of Ophthalmology, with the approval of the Dean of the College of Medicine, has worked out a plan whereby the fitting and dispensing of eye glasses to patients, including collections from patients, can be taken over by the University to integrate such dispensing and fitting into the teaching function in the Infirmary which is the responsibility of the University. Negotiations have been carried on with the two principal manufacturers: the American Optical Company, Chicago, and Bausch and Lomb Optical Company, Chicago. Negotiations were also undertaken with a group of retail optical houses but were terminated when these retail houses indicated that they could not compete with the manufacturers who supply them with the products. Both the American Optical Company and the Bausch and Lomb Company have offered to supply optical goods to the University at the same discounts, 25 per cent off list price except for certain types di bifocal prescriptions on which the discount would be 15 per cent. Since the prices quoted are identical, and the American Optical Company is familiar with the procedures at the Illinois Eye and Ear Infirmary, it is recommended that a contract be entered into with this Company for the balance of the fiscal year 1951-1952 under which the University will purchase the materials to be supplied to patients. Payments to the American Optical Company will come from charges made to patients for the optical goods which will include a sufficient markup to cover the cost of fitting, dispensing, billing, and collecting. It is estimated that purchases will amount to $30,000 to $40,000 per year. I concur and recommend that the Comptroller and the Secretary of the Board be authorized to execute a contract with the American Optical Company for the period from November I, 1951, to June 30, 1952, for the purchase of eye glasses and optical appliances.

On motion of Mr. Megran, this contract was authorized.

ADDITION TO CONTRACT FOR ELECTRICAL WORK O N RESEARCH A N D EDUCATIONAL HOSPITALS ADDITION

(18) The Director of the Physical Plant Department and the Comptroller recommend an increase of $3,219.27 in the contract with the Wadeford Electric Company, Chicago, for electrical work on the addition to the Research and Educational Hospitals. This change is necessary because: 1. Electrical cooking equipment has been redesigned by manufacturers in the interval between the time the building equipment was designed and the contract was awarded. Equipment now requires heavier feeders, branch circuits, and circuit breakers. 2. Provision should be made for future three-phase, 208-volt power outlets on laboratory furniture. 3. Final review by the Hospital administration suggests minor relocations of kitchen equipment and operating economies by having electric warming kitchens heated in the main kitchens and thus be prepared to serve patients without proceeding from the main kitchen to serving kitchens on each floor for warming. Funds are available in the state appropriation for the construction of the addition to the Research and Educational Hospitals and have been released by toe Governor.