So thorough is the system in the Department, that there is no de tail too small for the fullest consideration. There is probably no Archi tect's office elsewhere in the world where all details receive such attention; and there are few transactions of any nature occurring within recent years, of which all details cannot be obtained by any official in the office in less than ten minutes.
When the red tape of the Department is considered from various standpoints, and the results reviewed, it should inspire more respect than is usually accorded to it; and the man who is seeking contracts or sub-contracts should first of all get into the spirit of the business methods of the Department, make his bid to cover all its requirements, and, if he gets the contract, use his best efforts to live up to the letter of every requirement. Such lines will bring success. Carelessness in following such will bring failure.
It is often stated that such and such persons have the "inside track" with Department work, and that there is no use bidding against them. This is in a sense true; but in all such cases it will be found that that "inside track" was laid by the Contractor getting in line with the Department's methods and doing business as thereby required; and the way is open for any other Haan to lay for himself such an inside track.
There is a prevalent impression that it requires some special effort to have an opportunity to figure on Department work. There could, however, be no greater mistake, as every effort is made by the Supervising Architect to obtain the best competition. For every building, from forty to sixty sets of drawings and specifications are printed and sent without charge (being carried both ways free) to any general contractor who makes an application. In a very few instances a certified cheque is required, the proceeds of which are returned upon the receipt of the drawing, etc., in the office. Sub-contractors
and material men cannot be supplied, as it is impracticable to make a sufficient number of sets, and for the farther reason that it is desired that all sub-contractors and material men shall get all the information on which they base their bids from their principals, thus avoiding the danger of differences of opinion that might arise relative to the scope of the sub-bids.
When bids are desired, the work is advertised for from four to seven weeks, in representative technical journals throughout the country in the general section in which the work is to be done, and in the local papers of the town or city in which the building is to be erected. Notices as news items are sent to a very large line of trade papers, and also to Contractors within a few hundred miles of the city whose addresses are available; but such notices are discontinued if the party addressed does not submit a bid after notices of several buildings have been sent.
1\Iany material men send in requests that their specialties be specified, and when they find that that cannot be done, drop all inter est; whereas, if they followed up the matter, ascertained to whom the contract was awarded, and endeavored to arrange to sell any materials handled by them required under the contract, they would often obtain profitable contracts.
In order that the exact nature of the form which has to be signed by parties to whom contracts for Treasury buildings are awarded may be seen, a specimen contract is herewith reproduced, with occa sional notes in smaller type to explain its provisions. The form of bond is also printed; but, as this varies little from that used in private contracts, no notes in explanation of the provisions of the bond will be found necessary.