Please note: You are viewing
the unstyled version of this website. Either your browser does not support CSS
(cascading style sheets) or it has been disabled. Skip
navigation.
Comparison of Competitive Bids Obviously, this is one of the best means for validating price. By asking three or more suppliers of their prices for the same product, we can determine if a particular price is reasonable. However, this does not preclude total cost analysis. The lowest bid may not always represent the lowest cost. The total cost of acquisition must be analyzed. There may be cost associated with making the lower cost product perform to standards, the additional cost of early replacement or the cost of redesign and/or testing required to make the lower cost product applicable. This "total cost of acquisition" is the real cost that must be compared. A brief statement as to why a particular quotation is selected is required. Comparison of Prior Quotations In some circumstances, it may be most effective to compare recent (with the past 24 months) quotations for the same product or service to determine the viability of the current quotation. This is particularly helpful when timing of the acquisition is critical and solicitation of the competitive quotes would delay the procurement. An explanation of why comparison of prior quotations was used must accompany this procedure. Comparison of Published Price List This method should only be used for materials that are sufficiently similar to items or services are available to the general public and whose price would appear in a published price list. However, when comparing these price lists, it is important to consider standard industry discounts for the items or services. As an example, most electrical supply houses will offer standard discounts to purchasers doing a particular dollar or quantity volume. Such discounts must be considered when comparing list prices and noted in the procurement documentation. Prices Set by Law or Regulation Sometimes, prices are set by a law or regulation. When this occurs, there is usually a "pronouncement" of some form type that references the pricing structure. This must be referenced when procuring such items. Similar Item Comparison When an item or service is fairly unique, it is possible to compare items that are similar to those being purchased. A statement as to why the common item will not meet the specification should accompany the price comparison. Rough Yardstick Comparisons This technique uses a rough comparison between like items based on measurable similarities such as price per pound, cost per horsepower or price per test sample. Again, an explanation of the similarities must accompany this analysis. Many times, it is difficult to find comparable items or services. In these situations, it may be necessary to rely on a technical analysis. While time consuming, this is the best method to use when validating price for complicated sole source items. In this analysis, the supplier of the goods or services is asked to provide:
In all price and cost analysis, time is required. We recommend beginning the process as early as possible, even if funding has not yet been guaranteed. In all circumstances, the Procurement staff will be happy to assist. Last updated: March 7, 2011 | |||||||||||||
Copyright ©2007 Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, All Rights Reserved, Privacy Policy. |
