100' Ferrara Rear Mount Aerials

[grumpy grizzly]

Chicago is drawing up specs for engines, aerials, and tower ladders. They want a single manufacturer for all three.

 

[Bulldog]

When the next group of bids are opened for Rear Mount Aerials will the history with these units influence the decision-making process at all?  It certainly seems like it should but if you look at how they have purchased equipment in the past you would have to wonder.

There is no "decision".  Competetive bidding law awards the contract to the low bidder, as long as the bid meets the specs.  Done, no room for choice.

It's too bad that government agencies don't operate like most major corporations do.  They not only look at price but they also look at past performance and capabilities and then choose the "BEST BIDDER" not always the lowest bidder!

 

[116ff60]

Johnny bopp, As for your comment that the rear mounts suck. Lets just say that i told you so.

 

[Bulldog]

Why is it whenever a seagrave goes out of service we never hear about it?

Maybe because it's such a rare occurrence instead of an everyday occurrence?  Everybody understands a truck going OS occasionally but when it's repeatedly and quite often for the same thing it's something about the different.

 

[JohnnyBopp]

Why is it whenever a seagrave goes out of service we never hear about it?

Because.....(and this is a fact)....

Example here is Lad. 29.:

The first Ferrara was out of service for mechanical reasons more times in 2 years than the previous rig (a Seagrave) was in 11 years.

 

[Bulldog]

Why is it whenever a seagrave goes out of service we never hear about it?

Because.....(and this is a fact)....

Example here is Lad. 29.:

The first Ferrara was out of service for mechanical reasons more times in 2 years than the previous rig (a Seagrave) was in 11 years.

You would think that they could reject future bids from Ferrara based on information like this.

 

[BCR]

I highly doubt it, as long as Ferrara is making the repairs in the time frame the contract dictates, they are meeting the terms of there contract, to exclude them like that would probably end up in a lawsuit, however (not sure about NYC) most city's \ towns have a clause that reads something along the lines of " The Lowest Bidder Meeting All Requirements that is in the City's Best Interest." So if they have that wording they can reject the bid using pretty much what ever reason they want as long as it's the city's best Interest and move on to the next lowest bid but very rarely is something like that used, people scream, lawyers sue, and politicians never ok spending more cash than they have to even though it probably cost more in the long run. Look at it this way, how can they reject them now ? They never canceled the order when the units realized they had junk, and not only did they not cancel the order, they gave Ferrara a boat load of add on orders. Believe me I agree with you but unfortunately the powers in charge made there bed with this one

 

[fltpara16]

Is there any legislation similar to a "Lemon Law" in New York?  If there is, could they possibly pass over Ferrara by use of this law? 

 

[dan]

Aside from the initial batch of rearmounts which were problem plagued and at least 3-4 of which were already replaced due to Sandy damage or other reasons 4,81,137, 169....and issues with the rescues with welds and springs etc.....the newer ladders and special units seem to be better and previous defects addressed.  Both NYPD and FDNY are ordering lots of rigs from them.  Unfortunately due to ridiculous city practices and policies with specifications and contracts and bidding we are always stuck with a handful of manufacturers who are willing to submit to these terms and conditions.

 

[Bulldog]

Unfortunately due to ridiculous city practices and policies with specifications and contracts and bidding we are always stuck with a handful of manufacturers who are willing to submit to these terms and conditions.

Your statement is certainly true but up until the Ferrara ladder trucks there have not been such widespread problems with a manufacturer.  As a matter of fact most of the companies who decided to bid were among the tops in the industry because they knew how reliable their equipment was.  I'm referring to such equipment suppliers is Mack, American LaFrance, Salsbury (sp?),  Seagrave, etc.  The only top fire when supplier who never bid was Pierce.  KME has also proven with the new engine companies so far that they are going to be a good supplier.  I don't recall ever seeing or hearing of a supplier with so many problems when they first started providing equipment to FDNY.

 

[downtownmedic]

Going back a ways, the 80 1980 ALF Century pumpers were NOT popular with the companies operating them.  1980 was the first time in almost 20 years that something other than Mack CF pumpers were ordered. Many of them were replaced after only a few years of service - many of the Captains requested spare 1979 Macks to be reassigned to them.  Only a handful of these rigs lasted their expected 10 years in front line service - most spent years as Reserve Engines or were prematurely disposed of.  The point of this is that even the well established, respected "big boys" can goof on an order.