Fwd: University Bid

McNeilTom@aol.com McNeilTom@aol.com
Fri, 03 Nov 1995 20:26:19 -0500


---------------------
Forwarded message:
Subj:    Re: University Bid
Date:    95-10-25 01:26:50 EST
From:    McNeil Tom
To:      74557.2546@compuserve.com
CC:      McNeil Tom

Holy Cow, Bill -

I've never seen such a detailed RFB, let alone for such a small project!

It certainly does sound like their favorite tech wrote the specs.

If you're interested in getting the gig, you could call the administrator
listed and ask if they have someone in mind.  You could ask if they are
looking for price or quality.  If they say "price", you could politely
decline to bid based on the certainty that your fees are high, just as your
quality is.  If they say "quality", you could submit a high bid, even if you
think you might not get it; then, if you do win - great; if you don't win,
they'll always know they chose the cheap way out.  Be classy about it in any
case.  They may tire of Technician X soon, then be back to you.  On the other
hand, if the other tech is good, experienced, cheap, and well liked, you
can't get the job no matter what; then having left a classy impression will
have done you no harm.

'nough preachin'!  Good luck to you.

I recently did a temporary replacement for Danny Dover at Dartmouth.  No red
tape except for having to provide an insurance certificate.  I called my
agent and had her send a certificate to the appropriate office at the
college.  They sent back a form letter requiring my liability policy be
changed to specifically name the Trustees of the College as beneficiaries, to
increase my liability limit from $1,000,000 to $2,000,000, add evidence of
Workman's Comp coverage, and show auto liability coverage, too!  I had
already begun work on my contract with the college by then, and I would not
have quit the project, leaving the Music Department and Hopkins Center for
the Arts in the lurch, just because of this bullshit.  I promised myself that
if I got time, I'd call my insurance agent to discuss increasing my coverage
for the few weeks remaining on my contract.  Somehow, I never found the time,
finished the contract, made everybody happy - and got paid without any
further hassle.

Interesting stuff, this contractual institutional work!

- Tom McNeil -
Vermont Piano Restorations



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