Page #3

Regional Commissioner

General Services Administration, Region' 6

2306 East Bannister Road

Kansas City, Missouri

June 25, 1959

We bid the job exactly as it was specified with no reservations. The specifications were clear cut and definitive. At the time we bid all of the general contractors we were fully aware of the requirements of the job. We covered every contingency for seeing that this work could go ahead with dispatch and be completed at the time indicated.

When we attempted to secure a sub-contract from the success-
ful general contractor we were told that he was awarding
the work to another firm. Ne naturally asked him if this
other firm was in a position to meet the specifications as
they were written. We were told that the sub-contractor
had cleared everything with the Kansas City office of

SA and that he would furnish the material that would meet
the specifications and that there would be no question about
final acceptance, or approval of the entire job as he would
install it.

Heng

10090 Wrong

Upon receipt of this information we again visited your offices and talked with Mr. Warren and we were informed that he had modified his thinking as regards to specifications as they were written and that he was prepared to allow certain deviations from these specifications on the part of a successful subcontractor.

As you no doubt are aware, Mr. Jay, the job has been started
by the partition subcontractor. Because we were and still
are vitally interested in this job and because we recognize
that specifications are usually provided for the purpose
of being met and lived up to, we have visited this job on
numerous occasions to see just what kind of job is being
supplied under those specifications. We want to list here
for your consideration some very obvious and we believe
critical deviations.

Item 5-11 of the specification refers to Metal Parts. It
reads "All Metal Parts shall be of minimum 20-gauge electro-
lytic zinc-coated steel. Studs and framing members shall
be one-piece continuous roll-formed sections of minimum
18-gauge electrolytic zinc-coated steel. All exposed sur-
faces of steel parts shall be finished ready for painting
without need for further priming".

L'Intent

as indicated for

Page # 4

Regional Commissioner

General Services Administration, Region 6

Kansas City, Kissouri

June 25, 1959

An inspection of the job shows that the steel is not electolytic zinc-coated but that it is cold rolled and prime coated which is considerably lower in cost and quality. Electrolytic sinc-coated steel is certainly available to anyone who is

willing to purchase it. Yes

In Paragraph 11-6 the specifications clearly state "Frames
for the 1-3/8" thick doors shall be rolled-section minimum
16-gauge electrolytic zinc-coated steel, and shall be flush
with the partition trim and shall not extend beyond the trim".
This was specifically recommended for appearance and for
strength. At the time of this writing we have not been able
to examine any door frames inasmuch as none have been deliv-
ered to the job site. There have been some verbal explana-
tions that there has been a modification and a deviation in
this area as well. Can this modification and deviation that
would allow an entirely different type of door frame to be
used be justified?

-Yes

In Paragraph 11-7 the specification clearly states "Corner
posts shall be of one-piece roll-formed section of mini-

18-gauge electrolytic zinc-coated steel". Inspection
of the job actually indicates that in lieu of corner posts
as specified, two U-Channels that are not of electrolytic
sinc-coated steel are being used, held together with sheet
metal screws. This leaves a space between the parts. Also
it's much weaker structurally and considerably lower cost
than the corner post which was specified. In addition
it certainly lacks the finished appearance that would have
been provided by the one-piece post.

In Paragraph 11-8 - Metal Base Sections it clearly states
that "it shall be snap-on type with no exposed screws,
bolts or other fasténing devices. Metal base sections shall
be notched at the studs." While at the time of our inspec-
tion no base was actually installed, there are no provisions
which we can see that will allow the base that is to be
installed on the partition without fastening by some sur-
face visible means. Not only does this affect the visible
appearance but reduces the flexibility and easy removability.
Referring once again back to Paragraph 11-5, which states
"stud and framing masters shall be ɔne-piece continuous
raised-formed sections”. The material being used in this

læsion is nét rolled-formed. The resultant job is

58364 0-60- -16

по

Commissioner

Page # 5

Kral Services Administration, Region 6 masas City, Missouri

June 25, 1959

one that indicates very poor fitting of parts one to the other and certainly leaves the erected partition looking less than attractive. The finished appearance of the job that is presently visible to us is far less acceptable than similar work in the same building performed by our company on a prior contract.

In order to comply with the requirement in part which says
that studs shall be one piece, the installation is being
made with extruded aluminum sections. These aluminum sec-
tions are being used in direct contact with the steel mem-
bers with which they connect. Mot only does this represent
a deviation from the specifications as written, which
clearly defined the requirements to be all steel, but the
section of aluminum which is being used (in the opinions
of experts on aluminum) is far less strong and consider-
ably less rigid than would have been the result had the
steel stud as specified been used. We further have been
advised by specialists on metals that when steel and alum-
inum co-mingle the aluminum needs to be specially treated.
Our investigation of the work in progress at the Mart Build-
ing indicates that there is no effort being made to pro-
vide this treatment on this installation. We are further
advised by the same authorities that aluminum needs to be
treated in a similar special manner if it is going to co-
mingle with any alkali producing products, such as Gypsum
Board. This especially, if the aluminum is to be painted.
We feel that we are within our rights to ask why so many
deviations from a well-prepared and clearly written speci-
fication have been allowed. If, for any reason whatsoever,
it was determined that the specifications needed to be
modified, shouldn't we have been allowed to bid on the
basis of the modified requirements? Especially if the
modified requirements approve materials of measurably
less quality, and considerably less cost.

We have always had a great respect for the General Services
Administration. We felt they said what was wanted and the
aspecters am that there spesifications were met. This
se first time in our experience where such a wide de-
varianos existed between the specifications
nstalled in the Har

which is currently

Building. ~Could this be

reting

a precedent

Region 6

We sincerely feel, Mr. Say, that this is something that deserves your attention and we feel confident that once you have been advised of these facts you will give it that attention. Further, we ask that you give us the answers the questions as we have presented them to you. We would be happy to supply amyadditional information you might request.

Yours very truly,

HENGES COMPANY, INC.

Exhibit 3--Letter from R. J. Henges, Henges Company, Inc., Kansas City
Mo. to Thomas G. Jay, July 10, 1959

▲ letter was addressed to you from our St. Louis office dated June 25th. It related to partition work currently going on at the Mart Building in St. Louis. As a result of subsequent visits to the job site we have some additional points which we feel you would wish brought to your attention.

12177

The electric installation has been made by surface mounting all switches, pull boxes and conduits. This is in direct contradiction to Section 11-4, which states · partitions shall be designed and constructed to permit the installation of electriquă @ifeuits continuously through the partition base and vertically by use of Wiringposts supplied by partition manufacturer. Not only is the installation beläg described above, but in order to hold the conduit and the various electricki service units to the partition, it's necessary, or at least it was found etäisyy by installer, to make the attachment by means of screws or machine screws which through the full body of the gypsum panel, leaving an exposed head on ude Bing of the partition and the exposed conduits on the other side of the partiti, W bertainly is anything but attractive and I'm confident again does not Specifications.

mentioned in our previous commmication that the aluminum studs were a questionable item in this installation. We have had a sample piece of these uminum studs tested by a qualified aluminum expert. His findings indicate that there has been no treatment of any kind provided in or on these studs. U most recent visits to the job site indicated that some of the painting work, at least the first coat, has been accomplished. It was indicated the slightest Fasion of the paint surface would completely remove it from the aluminum itself. it üdé further noted that in those positions where partitions ran at right angles Viler partition line the attachment at this point was made by fastening metal maibëfj ŝirect to the gypsum panel. This necessitated once again the use of a screw through the entire thickness of the gypsum panel with the screw head exposed