RE: [californiadisasters] L.A. Co. Starting Over on Emergency Com System

Oh it gets cuter than that.  While there are several companies that could provide technology, some genius Boards have decided that only companies that don’t deal in XYZ (nuclear tech, unfair wages and other political statements) will be allowed to bid; which will end up costing the taxpayers more money because the competition is less (hence higher bids).  Then you have the notion that products can be all American made [hint: where are the parts actually made; where are they assembled.  Answer: not in the USA.]  Ain’t politics just a grand thing to have when it involves spending OUR tax dollars?

 

Let’s all hope that the planners (and the lawyers) earn their pay for this one and put in performance guarantees (saturated radio coverage, no gaps) and the ability to upgrade and some other key points.

 

There are several new technologies out there that will provide efficient and secure (no eavesdropping) communications, besides Batwing (the might Moto).  But often a contract is ‘shaped’ to get the agency’s idea of the ‘best’ technology which often defaults to a single company.  Joe won’t stand a chance (or say Kenwood) and likely couldn’t handle such a massive undertaking.  It’s all in the wordplay.

 

To do this size of job (completely interactive full county saturation), the final cost could easily be near $1B.  Taxpayers need to pay attention to this one.

 

Rick

 

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From: Dan Waterhouse

 

Some thoughts from someone who's in government and who has dealt with bidding (not for comm systems though).....

 

Hopefully, the bid package would spell out the qualifications for bidders (such as experience supplying comm systems, ability to provide tech support). A properly put together bid package would limit the potential for damage from unqualified bidders.

 

The important phrase for this discussion should be "lowest responsible bidder." That means a bidder who meets the qualifications and whose bid makes sense, compared to the "engineer's estimate" and the other bids. So, let's say LA estimates the cost of the system (I'm throwing some numbers out there, they're not real) to be $10 million and all but one bid comes in close to that number (higher and lower than). Then Joe's Radio and Billiards submits a bid of say $7.5 million.

 

The purchasing agent is going to ask Joe's to explain its bid and why it came in so low. If Joe can't come up with a valid explanation for the low-ball, their bid is going to be disqualified as not being a "responsible" bid.

 

--dan

Joe's Radio and Billiard Ball Co. bid lowest, would LA-RICS have to be
supplied by Joe?

A real dilemma.

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