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IWETHEY Home / IWETHEY Board / News Picks Forum / Sometimes gov specs are way off from the norm though
Post #373,112
by crazy
3/29/13 12:38:32 PM
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New Sometimes gov specs are way off from the norm though
Story, not mine, someone close to me for many years:

Buddy calls: Help!.
What?
Buddy: I was watching the bid list on a bunch of projects on a gov site and I just got the contract to supply a bunch of signs.
Um, ok, what's the problem?
Buddy: I realized they weren't really signs, they are targets, and the printed dimensions don't match any of the equipment that exists. Every piece is a one-off and will cost me 10 times to make them over what I bid! And if I don't fulfill they will sue the hell out of me.
Oh well.

I wonder how many contractors went through that type of process before before realizing they were supposed to all bid very high.
Post #373,117
by Andrew Grygus
Picture of Andrew Grygus
3/29/13 1:20:22 PM
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New The solution is simple.
Read the published specs.

Unfortunately, a lot of enthusiastic bidders make presumptions - once.

Of course, being the low bidder can get you disqualified too.

I remember a rocket part I bid (I think I have one in my collection). I bid $125 each. I was told I didn't know what I was doing and my bid was rejected in favor of the next lowest bid at about $800 each, for around 1000 pieces.

I picked up the follow-up batches for $99 each and made a very comfortable profit on them. They just weren't that difficult, if you knew how to make them.
     a bridge too far - (rcareaga) - (11) - March 28, 2013, 01:48:30 PM EDT
         Update on the linked article - (drook) - (2) - March 28, 2013, 02:41:05 PM EDT
             Back in the day . . . - (Andrew Grygus) - (1) - March 28, 2013, 03:01:42 PM EDT
                 Love that... - (folkert) - March 28, 2013, 03:38:50 PM EDT
         Re: a bridge too far - (Andrew Grygus) - (2) - March 28, 2013, 02:54:40 PM EDT
             sounds like "Grade 8" bolts - (rcareaga) - March 28, 2013, 03:58:26 PM EDT
             I can't wait to see what the metal looks like on all those - (mmoffitt) - March 28, 2013, 04:43:19 PM EDT
         Ohio bolts, eh? - (hnick) - (4) - March 28, 2013, 07:10:47 PM EDT
             Military Spec? - (Andrew Grygus) - (3) - March 28, 2013, 09:11:53 PM EDT
                 We have a laboratory division - (rcareaga) - March 28, 2013, 10:35:17 PM EDT
                 Sometimes gov specs are way off from the norm though - (crazy) - (1) - March 29, 2013, 12:38:32 PM EDT
                     The solution is simple. - (Andrew Grygus) - March 29, 2013, 01:20:22 PM EDT

I say first, medicinal wine from a teaspoon, then beer from a bottle!
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