But I’m really having a hard time with this one.
The ugly looking pile on my desk, with the fine Corinthian leather, is a document allowing me to participate in a tender with a government agency helping those that need some help. And help in servicing and procuring products in their pest prevention program.
I see about 50 of these a year, so no biggie. Except the amount of paperwork and hurdles are getting bigger and bigger.
As far as measuring up to other government docs, this one’s a winner at 1.75 inches tall! With 3 parts and Sections A through J, all sub-sectioned and sub-paragraphed. 143 pages of itemized detailed conditions and terms and swearing on the Bible, each and every one requiring an initial, autograph or company seal.
All to quote some prices for this years bug killing bonanza.
After slogging through this with good intent of joining my fellow competitors in bidding away, somewhere on page 142, right at the bottom in little bitty print were the terms “non-exclusive” and “we reserve the right to purchase from whomever we want or who buys lunch the most, at our discretion, ahem”
That put the previous 141 pages into a whole new light, meaning that they were essentially meaningless, and the new light will be required for my eyes after straining through this document.
Then add to the fact that anyone can cite the new Municipal Right to Know Privacy and Reporting Act and ask for a copy of the winning tender, with prices, terms, freight etc., and simply undercut the winning bid.
Or other unsavory acts of competitive sabotage, but would I do that?
But here’s the real rub: how much of my taxes are eaten up by having 2 pencil pushing purchasing agents, 2 IT geeks, a committee of subservient Supers and the one real guy who knows his stuff, or her stuff, to put together this purchase proposal?
Not to mention Legal, and any other fool looking to kill time in a Zoom meeting from home
The hours alone and wasted wages would get a new MRI machine. Multiplied by thousands of cities doing hundreds of tenders for everything under the sun.
All to get the best price on pyrethrum to save the tax payer $50. Not a good investment, spend $100,000 in man hours and get $50 back?
let’s go back to “here’s our price, thanks”
and a handshake of course.