[quote name='edburke' timestamp='1335234554' post='482766']
An outrageous contractual demand for warranty requirements that no other department in the world would reasonably expect of a manufacturer.....that which killed the original ALF, and caused Seagrave to be so high on the most recent bid. My guess is that it will bankrupt KME.
[/quote]
To be entirely fair about the above statement, the following observations must be made......The FDNY (or whoever does the specs for them) writes a spec that protects THEM AND THEIR MONEY That is their fiduciary responsibility to the people who pay the bills...the citizens of New York City. Apparatus manufacturers are providied a copy of the specifications including all warranty demands. If they've got anything going for them, the perform all of their due diligence regarding those specs and their ability to comply with them within their capabilities and means. After that they should arrive at a bid price that reflects the result of that process. If they think they can "low-ball" a contract of that nature they are kidding themselves....BIG TIME!!!! Nobody REQUIRES any manufacturer to participate in that process, and many don't. It's still a free country.
Based on the bids recieved, I'm guessing that Seagraves bid most accurately reflects the result of proper due diligence combined with years of experience in their case servicing the FDNY contract. Ferraras bid MAY reflect the results of their research coupled with things that are not readily "visible"......i.e. there may be a substantial difference in costs such as labor and other things that are reflected in that bid. For KME's bid to be as low as it is leads me to the conclusion that they MAY be trying to "low-ball" this one to secure that giant FDNY "feather in their cap" that everybody seems to crave. If anything can "sink" a company that would be what would do it very quickly.
If I were building/selling apparatus, I'd rather build/sell 10 to 15 "onsies & twosies" a year than 50 rigs to FDNY. I'd make a lot more money AND have a lot less ass aches at the end of the year. Just my humble opinion based on my knowledge of the apparatus business coupled with years of experience.
An outrageous contractual demand for warranty requirements that no other department in the world would reasonably expect of a manufacturer.....that which killed the original ALF, and caused Seagrave to be so high on the most recent bid. My guess is that it will bankrupt KME.
[/quote]
To be entirely fair about the above statement, the following observations must be made......The FDNY (or whoever does the specs for them) writes a spec that protects THEM AND THEIR MONEY That is their fiduciary responsibility to the people who pay the bills...the citizens of New York City. Apparatus manufacturers are providied a copy of the specifications including all warranty demands. If they've got anything going for them, the perform all of their due diligence regarding those specs and their ability to comply with them within their capabilities and means. After that they should arrive at a bid price that reflects the result of that process. If they think they can "low-ball" a contract of that nature they are kidding themselves....BIG TIME!!!! Nobody REQUIRES any manufacturer to participate in that process, and many don't. It's still a free country.
Based on the bids recieved, I'm guessing that Seagraves bid most accurately reflects the result of proper due diligence combined with years of experience in their case servicing the FDNY contract. Ferraras bid MAY reflect the results of their research coupled with things that are not readily "visible"......i.e. there may be a substantial difference in costs such as labor and other things that are reflected in that bid. For KME's bid to be as low as it is leads me to the conclusion that they MAY be trying to "low-ball" this one to secure that giant FDNY "feather in their cap" that everybody seems to crave. If anything can "sink" a company that would be what would do it very quickly.
If I were building/selling apparatus, I'd rather build/sell 10 to 15 "onsies & twosies" a year than 50 rigs to FDNY. I'd make a lot more money AND have a lot less ass aches at the end of the year. Just my humble opinion based on my knowledge of the apparatus business coupled with years of experience.
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