Content area
Full Text
Uncle Sam giveth, and Uncle Sam taketh away.
Two Fort Collins companies recently learned this lesson through the government's bidding process.
Manes Machine and Engineering Inc., a Fort Collins-based aerospace manufacturing company, won a $16 million airplane parts contract from the U.S. Air Force.
But the award did not come easily.
According to the Federal Information & News Dispatch service, Manes received notice in September that it won a bid to build titanium wing pylon ribs for F-15 A-E jets. The part supports the jet wings and serves as an attaching point for fuel tanks.
However, the contract was tied up after a competing company, PCA Aerospace of El Segundo, Calif., protested the bid, requiring a review by the Government Accountability Office.
"Manes Machine submitted the lowest evaluated offer and the award was subsequently made to them on Sept. 24," said Kathryn Canady, a contracting officer for Warner Robins Air Logistics Center in Georgia, which originated the bid process. The GAO dismissed the protest against the award to Manes Machine and the "stop work" order was lifted Nov. 15.
Manes owner Bruce Page, could not be reached for comment.
Manes will receive about $8,900 per pylon. The basic contract is "indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity," meaning Manes could receive orders for up to 1,900 pylon rib wings until Sept. 30,...