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9 4? . .. v t *".^tiBEBSSSS&BBB^tem. ^fltf?65SS!?3&&^w ^n iImTtt* ififcaT "*~^Sa wftft^"** IJiV^^ ^sB^- BE pjj^ |jg jgl * ! 'V.?'^ B k " iIL^ irJB8l 111 ^Ik, MS ^L^Vv ' '""^'*'^^jfjr Volume LXIX, No. 116 University of South Carolina, Columbia, S.C. March 2,19"79 use renti without si By Gur&ott Hirsch omwcock $t*f? wmtr vv COI?YmOHT W1 THE GAMECOCK a' A $3.4 million IBM computer is up and running at the university's tl computer services, although the s: only contract for its purchase was l signed without university C authhorization, and no rental a contract exists. ii USC is currently leasing the IBM & computer for about $75,000 a C month, according to Chip Gray, ? USC spokesman, but the S.C. State Budget and Control Board has c recused to approve the lease he r< said. And a rival computer firm, which had been notified that it was the apparent low bidder by 1872,00 is planning to take uie matter to v court. v Approval of funds to purchase a computer of the IBM type was granted by the board on August 17, subject to competitive bidding. But nearly two months earlier, on June 20, Jack M. Cooper, USC vice president for computer services, naa signea a purcnase coniraci with IBM. The IBM computer, a 303S processor model U8, arrived at the p university the evening of October w ^ : a A. ? ?? . t 26, ana was tnsiauea ira- oi mediately. One week later, the Amdahl w Corp. of Sunnyvale, Cal., notified fc the board of its intention to protest p the selection of IBM The protest c< was filed Nov. 17. w Amdahl said it was the apparent low bidder by $072,000 in a com- & petitive procurement process for " the computer contract. In its protest., Amdahl said the bidding T process used by USC was not- D conducted in a "fair and impartial Cl Kimuici y anuiuvivus *? improper actions taken by the oi university in favor of IBM. These & include the disclosure of con* fWential information by USC to P> ; IBM concerning Amdharb bid on ? the compter. w The Budget and Control Board is n> awaiting a decision from the attorney general's office on the r findings of a recent SLED in* 11 vestigation into a trip Cooper took *' this past summer to several foreign universities at IBM's ex- F pense, one day after Cooper signed v the contract with IBM. . t On June21 Cooper left for a flye- J w^*|>eai?ing tour 01 umver*m?i ; in txtfwon* Newcastle Zurich, ? My?dw College -n The contract was not connected letter from Charles H, ith the trip paid for by IBM, of the S.C. Division oi ccording to spokesman Gray. Systems Manageme Budget and Control "I believe Mr. Cooper acted in f?rnr*mg Amdahl that ie best interests of the univer- meeting of Dec. 21 had i ity," Gray said. "As head of tnat Amaam was tne "U FSC's computer division, Mr. low bidder on the con looper was only trying to guard a contact was conl gainst an upcoming increase successful run c lcrease in IBM's prices/' Gray chmark in the presenc aid referring to the contract. officials. A benchmark ooper could not be reached for of computer programs, omment. Amdahl attorneys Two weeks before he signed the company successfully ontract with IBM, Cooper this test on Jan. 10, 11 equested a special defense state officials, but 3033 rrocms?? ... . ^ riority rating from Ft. Jackson university had since ra hich would insure early delivery tehchnical questions ab f an IBM computer to USC. The university has Cooper said in the letter that a review of both the A aiting period of 18 to 24 months IBM benchmark tests ? delivery would hinder the party, but Amdahl r< aefnemon/io A# n nnnf?.o?? ITC/^'o tofftkr ot *vi Aiimivv w* cm v.viiu nw umv v??v* . omputer services division had Speaking for USC, G ith the fort. believed the university In his letter, Cooper listed the fair in its treatment of i guipment to be purchased as a had no knowledge of ai 3033 processor model U8 with 3036 or illegal actions on nd 3037 power and coolant." sity's part. The contr hese model numbers match the signed was only intend 3M equipment specified in the as a letter of intent antraet signed by Cooper on price protection in a i one 20 and the computer now in puter sale to the univi deration at the USC Computer said. ervices Division. A spokesman for li Cooper was granted the special York* who asked rioritv ratinfl from the Armv and anonymous, said au< JM wag notified of this priority dressing these matter, iting. Amdahl said it was never be more appropriate to otified of the special rating, university or the fttafc A Freedom of Information invovled n equest (lied by Amdahl with the j?re?Oy under review t yt? Si*? ?on Oct. 2fc, between 7 and 9 ^ -A A^^.. demoted because of vw nusiauea a* me univerwiy. M . ?One day later IBM wu told ^'P*1'0" ? hat it had been selected to provide n alternate computer ratter than JS?1. J he one for which It had submitted , bid. This U th* camputar the 2S,S! aUvmtty h?d toeWted. On Dec. U Amdahl r?eidv0 l|i^^i^?p^p^| on I Burr, head :% I f Computer ? nt, State H ooara, in- <ig?| t a board determined JS| le apparent |H tract" and tingent on a WL\ ?f the ben- SH e of state ; is a series j said the ~~i'\ completed 9| J79, before Mi iu.i it W&m iuu i ine |H ised certain out the test. offered a mdahl and mm by a third jjected this I ray said he 1|| y had been fill the bids and jHl ly unethical |H the univer- IB act Cooper led to serve IB and insure |B future com- MS a*sttyv Gary |H IM in New mm to remain m sstiona fid- Mi "would bv m ask (of) the 9 & since the latters ap- jHg >y the state. cooperated MEg to review.'* 9 e true that had been I. the par* Wm Y'% a! bidding spokesman ? aitt fnu ?? 4m timj > , Warn***, ? 'C 1 .v-~ A"3L77Jf:, ] J ; . '-:-y .. * ' .*; ...... .. f'-' ;<y^^y.'yy'y: '\y'^ ,\y ' ' 7, ... " ' u'y/ys<x-< ' " -V s - - ' < > < ? ; ?$* , ^ * s ' .- \ / ^ w \ \ < s * i ' > * -> V : : . V... ' ' < T "s ' - * ' * , :' ' 2 * T : . v'. 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