COLLAPSE OF TEXAS TOWER NO. 4 63 



4. As a result of interviews with tlie above, it has been determined tliat Merritt- 

 Ohapman & Scott Corp., DeLong Corp., and Frederick Snare Corp. are either 

 interested in the construction contract or decided on the type of design that 

 should be followed on this project. 



5. Due to the wide range of thought and conflicting ideas it was concluded 

 that an A. & E. should be selected to evaluate existing designs of similar types 

 of structures and modify those designs to suit the criteria, consequent layout 

 of the platforms, and field conditions of the location of each tower. 



It was further agreed to select the firm who can approach the problems of off- 

 shore platform construction with a clear and unbiased mind and without a 

 vested interest in any existing or patented feature of such construction. It is 

 understood that the duty of the firm will be to evaluate all existing systems and 

 ideas for construction of offshore platforms while preparing a standard specifica- 

 tion and schematic drawings setting forth design requirements, basic conditions 

 anticipated, space and service requirements for equipment and personnel, and 

 an estimate based upon a feasible construction concept. It is known that 

 several firms have built or have designed offshore platforms, most of them in 

 connection with oil drilling platforms in the Gulf. Several of these firms have 

 patented features which they may be reluctant to release to competitors in the 

 field. It is presumed that the firm recommended will find some merit in the 

 features of any given design and may well find the construction of such plat- 

 forms is a reasonably competitive project. Because several of the firms who 

 are capable of building such projects have pet or patented features, it is consid- 

 ered that each will bid competitively only if his features can be employed in the 

 project. If final design is based upon the features of any particular firm, it 

 is likely that those firms whose features are not included or cannot be adopted 

 will consider themselves excluded from the bidding or they will be forced to bid 

 on the basis of an alternate design of their own. It appears to this Board that 

 the best way to get these projects underway on a competitive basis is to take 

 bids for final design and construction. This will permit any firm or combination 

 of firms who have a pet or patented idea to bid competitively and will assure 

 complete responsibility for design and construction and will most effectively close 

 the gap between design responsibility and construction responsibility. Inasmuch 

 as these offshore platforms represent an advance in the state of the art and will 

 probably require both engineering and construction pioneering, the separation 

 of design from construction will establish a divided responsibility which ought 

 not and need not be accepted in this case. Inasmuch as these projects are 

 reasonably spectacular, award in this manner should provoke competition from 

 large engineering and construction firms on a nationwide basis. It should 

 bring the best engineering brains to bear on the subject. 



6. After careful consideration of the capabilities, personnel, and liaison difl3- 

 culties created by the locality of the A & E design office, the Board recom- 

 mends the selection of Anderson-Nichols & Co., and Moran, Proctor, Mueser & 

 Rutledge. 



7. The fee for the work will be negotiated after the A & E selection. 



Members of Board 



Comdr. J. J. Albers, 



Comdr. F. L. Biggs, 



Lt. J. LaPorte, 



D. Y. Tatxok, 



S. S. Swindells (Recorder), 



Wm. F. Wesanen, 

 Captain (CEC) U8N. 



Mr. Kendall. Captain Albers, what was the reason for the elimina- 

 tion of Merritt-Chapman & Scott, DeLong Corp., and Frederick 

 Snare Corp. from consideration as the design engineers on this 

 project? 



Captain Albers. We considered that the joint venture of the two 

 firms that we selected was more capable of accomplishing the work, 

 plus the fact that one member of that joint venture was in the immedi- 

 ate geographical area of the 1st Naval District. 



Approved. 



