Hi all, Last fall I posted quite a bit about the problem of piano purchase at a state institution, and eventually outlined the process I developed based on feedback from this list and a listserv of music administrators. To summarize, we named specific models of piano and invited vendors to submit bids to provide those pianos, also offering them the opportunity to submit other models they thought were comparable. Decision was advertised to be based 60% on quality as determined by individual audition, 40% on price. We evaluated each individual piano offered, with each member of a three member committee going individually to each store and rating each piano on an evaluation sheet (with numerical ratings). Prices were rated on an equal scale (quality was compiled on a 0-12 scale, so price ranges were rated similarly 0 - 12, with $500 increments for small and medium uprights, $750 for large uprights: IOW, $3000 - 3500 = 12; $3501 - 4000 = 11; $4001 - 4500 = 10, etc). The average quality rating was multiplied by 0.6, price rating by 0.4, and those two numbers added together gave the composite rating for each instrument (I put together a fairly simple spreadsheet to do the math and present it to the purchasing department). I am happy to report that this went very smoothly. Purchasing was happy, the vendors were happy, and the committee - well the consensus was that we accepted the results (even though we disagreed quite a bit on individual pianos). For those curious, we decided on 3 Yamaha P-22's and a Petrof 131. A lot of trouble for 4 uprights, but worthwhile over the long haul, I think, in establishing a process. Next year we'll enter the realm of grands, and it will start to matter more. Regards, Fred Sturm University of New Mexico
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