The Chairman wants our quote.
The exec calls and asks for quote
Quotation sent in
Without revealing too much of methodology or technical views
They call for a meeting with the COO
Wait a while and he comes in late and doesnt apologize
He asks if thats the best we can do, and we say yes.
He asks how we arrive at our opinion
We oblige
He appears to understand and says we should convey this to the Chairman.
Meeting with the government department is the next day
Asks us for reasons they can give to seek postponement.
We oblige again.
COO asks us to wait for their call whether we need to attend meeting next day
Shakes hand.
Out of the blue zaps a request for the one page calculations (work product)
Well, we've got the job, or so it appeared. So we give it.
We go back to our office. Ok, its a small job, but we should start preparing now
We wait.. and wait.. and wait
No arrangement to meet the Chairman
No calls, so we presume the meeting the next day is off
7pm or thereabout, exec calls to say they havent decided who to offer the job to!
We are to hold on, so to speak!
When pressed if there are others in the picture, exec relents and admits
Admits the other party was going to be appointed!
KNNCB!
Told the exec this is ungentlemanly conduct.They were using us.
Demanded views were conveyed to the COO
COO calls back shortly after
Says he had a meeting with the Chairman, and they decided to go for someone else
He didnt even read our note, or so he says.
Claims its the Chairman who wanted it!
KNNCB!
Told him off for using and misleading us.Ungentlemanly conduct!
You dont do all of the above, and then at the last moment cut us off
Felt like slamming the phone but then, its the cheap nokia.
Cut the call off in disgust.
Its a small job. But its the principle that matters.
Trust doesnt count much in the jungle out there.
Work product got hijacked.
Lesson learnt.
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5 comments:
Its rampant this sort of unethical procurement practices even in banks. I normally refuse to quote if I dont know the client well as we're likely to be making up numbers. Even if you've the best technical proposal or the lowest quote, you not going to get the job if there's a favoured party.
I agree with Sicko. But at times I will ask for quotes from other vendors to make up the numbers because of company's requirements. And now I feel really bad about it.
I would normally submit a bid unless am really not interested in the job.
In this instance however, the Chairman was an old friend of my boss.
The impression given that we had the job, and later events, and the fact that you can also get screwed by people you know, is what annoyed me.
Fuck la, be glad you didn't get the job cos from what you have said, I very much doubt you would have been paid. In every cloud there is a silver lining.
Eh. I failed to add a pertinent fact. The fees would have been payable by the Government, directly to us. The client, doesnt have to pay a single sen, if we dont bill them for nominal disbursements.
Once the job is done, within 3 months, fees will be paid. The issue of fees isnt the crux of this matter :)
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