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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
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