Detroit Fire Department to finally receive new apparatus

[GA_Dave]

Seems to be happening more and more in big city or multiple unit bids.  Locally, XXX manufacturer submitted the lowest bid over XXXXXXXX by $75,000 combined on 2 pumpers.  However, the specs were nowhere close.  I'm guessing XXX hoped that the price difference would be too much to ignore and the city bean counters would force the department to take low bid, regardless of how off-spec they were.  The department was able to justify awarding the contract to XXXXXXXX.  However, one of these days...and in this economy...that tactic will actually work. 

 

Kent Parrish

Louisville, KY

Then what's the point of writing specs.  I have seen this happen many times and the Firefighters who get stuck with the low-bid rig are most often the ones to suffer for it.  If the only thing that matters is the price, then maybe we should start buying apparatus at Wal-Mart!