A recent article in the Orange County Register says Whiting-Turner submitted an $89 million bid to expand the John Wayne Airport, only to say that it was supposed to be $98 million - they transposed the numbers. If you do the math, the figures do support that it should have been $98 million.

This typo could cost Whiting-Turner the job, even though they were the lowest bidder whether it was $89 million or $98 million. The next low bid was $101 million by McCarthy Building Cos.  Now the error is causing a controversy and everyone seems to be getting involved. Can the airport award the contract for $89 million? Company officials say no because that is not a feasible amount.

A lot of people have commented about this article and one reader reminds everyone that government contracts abide by strict rules. If there are errors, the bid gets tossed out. While it seems wrong to toss Whiting-Turner out of the running for this job, it is a rather big mistake. Another reader points out that they must be disqualified or future bidders on airport contracts may try this as a trick.

What do you think?