gave his approval on December 4, 1948. The specifications for the tower and appurtenances were sent to Los Alamos for approval and were returned with a few comments on January 26, 1949, On March 3, 1949, approval was given by J-Division and AEC to submit the design to prospective fabricators for bids. Bids on four towers were received by Holmes & Narwer on April 25, 1949. Because of high bids, all bids were rejected so as to give bidders some more time to study the towers. The specifications were revised and new bids were received on June 3, 1949. The results of these bids were forwarded to AEC on June 17, 1949, after Holmes & Narver had carefully in- vestigated all alternatives proposed and subcontractors listed by the prime bidders, On June 28, 1949, J-Division proposed the bids be changed from 4 steel towers to 3 steel, and 1 aluminum. This suggestion was over-ruled by the Test Director on June 30, 1949. On July 7, 1949, approval was given by the AEC Director of Engineer- ing to award a contract for four steel towers to Pacific Iron and Steel Company, which was low bidder at $206,061.00 for all structural, mechanical, and electrical equipment, with the provision that negotiations be made with Pacific Iron and Steel to construct one aluminum tower in lieu of the fourth steel tower. The aluminum tower required new design. On July 14, 1949, Holmes & Narver issued a purchase order to Pacific Iron and Steel Company; however, the contract could not be signed until after the negotiation on the aluminum tower, The plans for the aluminum tower were completed and sent to Pacific Iron and Steel Company on Septem ber 2, 1949, Their proposal for the aluminum tower was received on Sep~ tember 23, 1949; the additional amount was $40,296.63, On September 28, 1949, a representative of Los Alamos requested that the matter be delayed another two weeks gq that J-Division of los Alamos Scientific Laboratory could consider the matter further, Authority for Pacific Iron and Steel to purchase materials was given October 5, 1949. On October 18, 1949, authorization was received from AEC to procure five 300 foot towers: four steel and one aluminum, The aluminum tower was withdrawn from negotiations with Pacific Iron and Steel Company and was put up for separate bids, The first tower, complete with all the collateral gear, was sent to Oakland for trannshipment on February 13, 1950 after a successful test erection of two sections, The Engineering Division sent a structural designer to the Jobsite for a month to check the complete erection of the first tower. The structural members of the next three towers were shipped to Oak— land on April le, 1950. Shortly thereafter the collateral gear was shipped, thus ending the Engineering Department's work with the exception of small changes made in the field to snit a User's last minute requirement. The mechanical design criteria were furnished by a representative of Sandia Corporation who was also in charge of weapon assembly and there- d~130