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    "label": "Memorandum from Douglas Orr to President Harry S. Truman",
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    "title": "Memorandum from Douglas Orr to President Harry S. Truman",
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    "ocrText": "- 6 -\nThe repairs and renovation of existing furniture and furnishings and\nthe selection and procurement of additional articles of that kind, required\nexpert knowledge and judgment in the careful examination of the existing\narticles, the determination of the nature and cost of the repairs or refurbish-\ning necessary and practicable, and the appraisal of the appearance and qualities\nof both the original and the added furnishings. The extraordinary nature of\nthis work was recognized in Public Law 119, 8lst Congress, lst Session, which\nauthorized its exception from the usual requirements of competitive bidding.\nIt was found to be impossible to determine and specify in advance the extent\nand character of that work with sufficient precision to permit competitive bid-\nding on a fixed price basis without large allowances by the bidders for contin-\ngent costs, many of which would probably not be incurred. Furthermore, the\ntrouble and expense of adequate examinations by prospective bidders would be\nlarge, and in these times it would be difficult to induce many capable contrac-\ntors to make the proper examinations.\nUnder these circunstances, it was determined to be in the interest of\nthe United States to negotiate a contract if favorable terms could be made with\na reliable contractor. B. Altman & Co. of New York have done much work on the\nWhite House furnishings in the past, and the quality of the work has been of a\nhigh order. Neither the Commission nor its advisors were able to suggest any\nother possible subcontractor of equal qualifications for this particular work.\nConsequently, that firm was requested to state the terms on which they would\nbe willing to undertake it. They offered to do whatever work the Commission\nmight direct within the capacity of their organization, at cost without overhead\nor profit, charging the Government only the net costs incurred and giving it the\nbenefit of all discounts or similar allowances obtainable by the contractor.\nThis proposal was accepted by the Commission and a contract was awarded accord-\ningly on December 14, 1950. Work under the contract is proceeding, supe rvised\nby the Vice Chairman of the Commission, the Consulting Architect, and the Execu-\ntive Director, in consultation from time to time as desired with specially\nchosen advisors on interior decoration, who serve without compensation.\nAnother unusually important feature of the project is the ornamental\nplaster work. It required the duplication of plaster ornament in the original\ninstallation, with desirable modifications in some locations, and the prepara-\ntion of ornament from new designs in other locations. The modeling and casting\nof the ornament were undertaken by force account by the General Contractor,\nwith supervision by the Architect of the White House. The work was done in a\ntemporary shed on the White House grounds. This method offered advantages in\neconomy and convenience of inspection and architectural guidance, by eliminating\nprofit and transportation charges and by permitting frequent visits to the work\nby the architects. The work was about 85% completed by the end of the year.\nThe time and costs have exceeded the original estimates, chiefly on\naccount of additions and improvements made as the work progressed, but on the\nwhole, the results fully justify the plan adopted. The work is of superior\nquality and it could not have been done as economically by any other method.\nthe\nAND\nEs"
}