
—-18) 
BUSINESS ADMINISTRATICN 
et eet 
Purchases In Excess of Fifty Dollars 

Attention is called to the matter of purchases made in the open 
market in excess of $50 without first securing competitive bids. It 
should be borne in mind that the Bureau of Entomology is prohibited 
by statute from making such purchases without securing competitive bids, 
except as provided in paragraphs 63 to 68, inclusive, of the Fiscal 
_ Regulations of the Department. Any employee contemplating such emergency 
_ purchases should first place the matter before the Washington office of 
the Bureau for approval and instructions, using the telegraph when neces— 
sity requires immediate consideration. Ordinarily, needs may be foreseen 
sufficiently in advance to allow for competition. Delaying purchases in 
field offices until the need arises is not considered by the Department or 
the General Accounting Office as constituting an emergency, and vouchers 
in payment of such purchases are subject to disallowances. 
In cases where plans can not be made and needs anticipated suf- 
ficiently in advance to allow for the handling of bids through the usual 
channels, officials in charge of field stations are authorized to invite 
bids. Such bids after opening should be forwarded to Washington with 
recommendations for making the award. (See par. 73). 
In the solicitation of bids for supplies and services: 
1. The proper standard form should be employed. 
2. Definite and impartial specifications are to be used, stat- 
ing accurately the quantity and kind of article required. 
The practice of calling for an article by name followed by 
"Or equal" should be discontinued where it is at all possi- 
ble to describe the article. 
3. Federal specifications are to be used wherever applicable. 
If Federal specifications appear impracticable the Washing— 
ton office should be advised accordingly. 
4. In seeking quotations the specifications should show the 
needs rather than allow the bidder to indicate what he pro- 
poses to furnish. This is not intended to prevent the giv-— 
ing of the general description of the article desired and 
then allow the bidder to describe what he has to offer. 
5. Specifications must include definite place of delivery and, 
where essential, specify time for delivery, or provide for 
bidder to indicate time within which he will make delivery. 
