Iowa - State agency accused of slanting requests for radio bids

[cwsplinter]

To win a contract to outfit law enforcement officers at the Iowa Department of Natural Resources with 200 new radios back in 2011, communications equipment suppliers faced a list of unusually exacting specifications.

The radios’ “push to talk” buttons had to be at least 44 millimeters tall and 15 millimeters wide, and their knobs at least 19 millimeters apart. For Michael Miller, president and CEO of the Marshalltown-based Racom Co., those rigid requirements amounted to disqualification: The push to talk buttons on the Harris brand radios his company sells measure 40 millimeters by 13 millimeters, and the knobs are 11 millimeters apart. Failing to meet those specifications meant Racom couldn’t even submit a valid bid — sidelining it before the contest began.

Only one supplier, in fact, could meet every spec for a contract worth perhaps $1 million: Illinois-based industry leader Motorola Solutions Inc.


State agency accused of slanting requests for radio bids | The Des Moines Register | desmoinesregister.com

 

[jim202]

To win a contract to outfit law enforcement officers at the Iowa Department of Natural Resources with 200 new radios back in 2011, communications equipment suppliers faced a list of unusually exacting specifications.

The radios’ “push to talk” buttons had to be at least 44 millimeters tall and 15 millimeters wide, and their knobs at least 19 millimeters apart. For Michael Miller, president and CEO of the Marshalltown-based Racom Co., those rigid requirements amounted to disqualification: The push to talk buttons on the Harris brand radios his company sells measure 40 millimeters by 13 millimeters, and the knobs are 11 millimeters apart. Failing to meet those specifications meant Racom couldn’t even submit a valid bid — sidelining it before the contest began.

Only one supplier, in fact, could meet every spec for a contract worth perhaps $1 million: Illinois-based industry leader Motorola Solutions Inc.


State agency accused of slanting requests for radio bids | The Des Moines Register | desmoinesregister.com

That's what happens when you allow a vendor to write the specs. They will try any way they can to eliminate the competition.

If the state was smart, they would throw out the entire bid process on this one and start over.

There is no reason to even spell out that type or requirement. Has nothing to do with the functionality of the radio or effect it's performance.

 

[902]

When I was working in the two-way business, my shop bid for several communities' maintenance agreements. We were disqualified because we didn't have our own gas pump and the competitive shop apparently did. For some reason, they marketed the thing as a "we're better because we have it."

One thing about it, though. It was disconnected in the late 60s and never worked since, but they had one.

 

[rapidcharger]

And here I thought those knobs on the APX was that spread apart so people who were wearing gloves could turn them. Silly me.

It makes perfect sense now.

 

[dcr_inc]

2 millimeters will NOT make the difference between turning and NOT turning the Knob..Last Year Moto was getting bids throw due to not having 3 radio case colors.. Now All manufactures have the colors, now its the button spacing.. Typical Moto Wine and Dine..

 

[radiomanNJ1]

Why would they want to deal with GE Toaster radios?
Motorola works.

 

[MTS2000des]

"GE", you mean General Electric? They exited the 2-way business in 1991, so I'm not sure how this would even be brought into the discussion.

Motorola works, so do Kenwood, Icom, Vertex-Standard, Harris, Tait, and Cassidian- usually the latter companies "work" for much less money. Too bad the state of Iowa are suckers. As always, we taxpayers get the shaft.

 

[KAA951]

Motorola works, so do Kenwood, Icom, Vertex-Standard, Harris, Tait, and Cassidian- usually the latter companies "work" for much less money. Too bad the state of Iowa are suckers. As always, we taxpayers get the shaft.

As someone who has professionally used most of the brands you listed, in public safety field conditions (including those GEs)... I will agree they all "work", though with varying degrees of reliability and quality (both in construction and in their voice quality, reception, battery life etc.)

I wish GE was still around, they made good, solid back in the day. But, I have found over the years that you get what you pay for. While I don't like paying a premium for the batwing, their products have never let me down over the years. I can't say the same for Kenwood, Icom, Vertex or Harris. Tait and Cassidian- I can't say as I haven't even seen them other than in magazines.

One major factor for a state, or any other large government agency, is mixing brands and models of radios. Our agency uses a single vendor and fields more than 2,000 subscriber units. I could see our contracts being set up to favor that same vendor.

 

[tech020]

Iowa and Moto have history going back to the 70's. Moto had a plant in Iowa that made Maxar low end radios. Iowa had a bid out for a state wide VHF multi-channel interop system designed by consultant faculty at the University Of Iowa. It called for custom control heads and PL switching capabilities. Moto wanted special engineering costs to even bid the job. Iowa ended up with Quintron Base and Repeater stations along with mobiles from Aerotron (later bought by Harris). Moto had a fit and closed their plant soon after. As far as I know, the Iowa system worked well into the 90's. Anyone else care to comment?

 

[comsec1]

This is a big problem across the country with the anti-labor/government employee movement going on. Many government agencies large and small have not replaced the experienced radio technicians who were able to advise planners on communications abilities and requirements and are relying on the very vendors who sold them the equipment to "let us know what we need" or consultants who themselves are in bed with the vendors. If the taxpayers really knew the REAL cost of that new platinum P25 super-duper trunk system once they find out that they just can't use any old subscriber units on it and are required to to buy the super-duper compatible radio I think there would be a revolution. When I read the story link it sounded all too familiar.

 

[KA9QPN]

This happens in the construction industry all the time, and the consulting engineers who write the exclusionary specs are well paid. Negates the bid process with a wink and a nod. At least with the consulting engineers, you can get on the 'acceptable' list if you supply enough documentation and badger them enough.

 

[902]

you can get on the 'acceptable' list if you supply enough documentation...

That documentation wouldn't happen to be green, would it?

 

[SCPD]

That documentation wouldn't happen to be green, would it?

Ouch!

 

[timkilbride]

Iowa and Moto have history going back to the 70's. Moto had a plant in Iowa that made Maxar low end radios. Iowa had a bid out for a state wide VHF multi-channel interop system designed by consultant faculty at the University Of Iowa. It called for custom control heads and PL switching capabilities. Moto wanted special engineering costs to even bid the job. Iowa ended up with Quintron Base and Repeater stations along with mobiles from Aerotron (later bought by Harris). Moto had a fit and closed their plant soon after. As far as I know, the Iowa system worked well into the 90's. Anyone else care to comment?

http://isicsb.iowa.gov/documents/1971_Collins_Radio_Plan_for_Iowa.pdf

RACOM is doing some strong arming in the Marshalltown area as well on there end to eliminate competition to them.

Tim

 

[W2NJS]

As long as government officials allow this kind of tight spec crap to go on you'll have salesmen writing specs that require a certain size PTT button. You can get around such silliness if you're dealing with a consulting engineer, but where the owner is the "engineer" you're usually screwed because all the guy is doing is covering his *** due to his own ignorance. A real engineer is usually too smart to allow this kind of stuff to rule in the bid process. I know, because I tried it many times when I was in engineering sales for a large equipment/systems manufacturer. I got away with it a few times but it wasn't easy.

 

[newsphotog]

The state canceled all RFP's for radio equipment today. State cancels controversial effort to purchase law enforcement radio equipment | Des Moines Register Staff Blogs

 

[bar422]

Seems pretty clear that the state knows what they want.....and its not Harris or Tait so they can complain all they want and even if either one has the lower bid that doesn't mean it will be accepted. Racom is known for some pretty shady dealings of their own!