11-22 Special Order; Opportunity Cost Grant Industries, a manufacturer of electronic parts, has recently received an invitation to bid on a special order for 20,000 units of one of its most popular products. Grant currently manufactures 40,000 units of this product in its Loveland, Ohio, plant. The plant is operating at 50% capacity. There will be no marketing costs on the special order. The sales manager of Grant wants to set the bid at $9 per unit because she is sure that Grant will get the business at that price. Others on the executive committee of the firm object, saying that Grant would lose money on the special order at that price. 40,000 60,000 Units Manufacturing costs: Direct materials Direct labor Factory overhead Total manufacturing costs Unit cost $ 80,000 120,000 240,000 $440,000 $ 11 $120,000 180,000 300,000 $600,000 $ 10 Required 1. Why does the unit cost decline from $11 to $10 when production level rises from 40,000 to 60,000 units? 2. What would be the impact on short-term operating income if the order is accepted at the price recommended by the sales manager? What do you think the minimum (short-term) bid price should be