piano purchase specs

David M. Porritt dm.porritt@verizon.net
Mon, 15 Dec 2003 16:32:56 -0600


Fred:

Good work on this.  The only question I had was "have you seen a Boston UP-118 lately?"  I was surprised to see it in the list of acceptable instruments.

dave


__________________________________________
David M. Porritt, RPT
Meadows School of the Arts
Southern Methodist University
Dallas, TX 75275


----- Original message ---------------------------------------->
From: Fred Sturm <fssturm@unm.edu>
To: College and University Technicians <caut@ptg.org>
Received: Mon, 15 Dec 2003 11:02:53 -0700
Subject: Re: piano purchase specs

>Here's what I finally came up with, and purchasing seems to be going along 
>with it (I should note that I chose piano models from among those available 
>at local vendors.):
>Memo to purchasing department

>	The Music Department has recently implemented a course fee for the 
>purpose 
>of on-going replacement and maintenance of pianos. Purchase of new 
>instruments will occur regularly for the foreseeable future.
>	It is vital that the pianos purchased be if the highest musical quality, 
>and that they be manufactured to a high standard to ensure longevity and 
>reliability.
>	It is not possible to quantify selection criteria for pianos (or for many 
>other musical instruments, including, for example, violins) in a purely 
>objective way. There is a broad consensus as to which models of instruments 
>from which manufacturers will generally meet quality standards. However, 
>individual instruments within any given model will vary considerably from 
>one another. Obtaining appropriate instruments requires individual 
>selection.
>	We understand that we are constrained by state law to follow procedures 
>which provide for a fair and honest selection procedure. We would like to 
>propose the following as an appropriate way to select pianos. We would:
>1) List specific models made by specific manufacturers as pianos known to 
>meet quality criteria, and invite bids to provide those instruments. In 
>general, we would try to list at least four models made by four different 
>manufacturers where possible.
>2) Invite vendors to propose, if they wish, models which they consider to 
>be equivalent, noting that the selection committee would determine whether 
>or not such instruments would meet our requirements.
>3) State that while price will be a criterion for selection, individual 
>pianos will be selected for purchase individually. The vendor should 
>provide an opportunity for the selection committee to audition pianos 
>individually.
>4) State that the UNM Music Department will generally wish to establish and 
>maintain a varied inventory of pianos, in order to expose students to a 
>wide range of tone and response. Thus, in general purchases will be of more 
>than one model, and from more than one vendor.

>We wish to make our initial purchase as early as possible in 2004, with a 
>goal of obtaining four upright pianos. For this purpose, we would propose 
>the following language for the request for bids:

>The UNM Music Department is seeking bids for the purchase of four upright 
>pianos by January 31, 2004. These pianos should be of 
>Professional/Institutional quality as described below:

>1) Pianos purchased will be between 45? and 52? in height. Probable 
>purchase will include one 45 - 46?, two 48? and one 50 - 52?, but this mix 
>may vary depending on instruments available.
>2) Bids will be entertained for the following makes and models:
>Boston: UP-118, UP-126, UP-132
>Kawai: UST-7, UST-8, UST-10, UST-12, K-20, K-30, K-50, K-60, K-80
>Mason &  Hamlin: 50
>Petrof: 115, 125, 131 (or equivalent Weinbach)
>Schimmel: 120, 122, 124, 130
>Steinway: 1098, K
>Yamaha: P-22, U-1, U-3, U-5
>3) Vendors may submit bids on pianos not listed above, which they believe 
>to be of equivalent quality. The selection committee will determine whether 
>such pianos meet Music Department criteria.
>4) While price will be a major consideration, actual selection of 
>instruments for purchase will be made by audition. The selection committee 
>will examine instruments individually to determine which will meet the 
>needs of the department, based on considerations of tone, response, and 
>character. Vendors should plan to provide an opportunity for this audition 
>process.
>5) The Music Department wishes to have a variety of instruments for 
>educational purposes. Hence, it is likely that purchases will be made from 
>more than one vendor.
>6) Used pianos may be offered, provided they are in like new condition, and 
>are less than ten years old.

>	For the audition portion of the selection of pianos, I would like to use a 
>committee of three. Each will audition each piano, and will rate each piano 
>on a rating sheet as follows:

>1) Tone quality: unacceptable (0), satisfactory (1), very good (2), 
>outstanding (3) [written comments]

>2) Dynamic range: unacceptable (0), satisfactory (1), very good (2), 
>outstanding (3) [written comments]

>3) Responsiveness of action: unacceptable (0), satisfactory (1), very good 
>(2), outstanding (3) [written comments]

>4) Overall impression of piano: unacceptable (0), satisfactory (1), very 
>good (2), outstanding (3) [written comments]

>We would then do a numerical average to rate the various pianos, and 
>collate that with price to make the actual selection.

>	I'll let you know how this works. We are hoping to complete the process in 
>January or February.
>Regards,
>Fred Sturm
>University of New Mexico


>_______________________________________________
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