EBME Forums Forums Management Medical Equipment Management Familirities lead to monopoly

If that's what has been agreed to (ie, what the contract says), then everyone should comply - unless someone has the funds required to insist on Change Orders!

On the other hand, surely the end user can propose alternatives? Then it is up to you to agree or disagree as appropriate. Just as long as any such proposals are made in a timely manner (that is, before the selected item has already been approved for purchase). Who knows, they may even suggest something that costs you less!

Where have your specs (specifications) come from, by the way?

Meanwhile, here's another nice phrase that may sometimes be useful:- "Equal to, or better than".

Good Luck!

Geoff, there is a committee appointed and I am on most if not all the biomedical equipment tenders and yes there are terms and conditions as mentioned above, electrical and medical gas are British Standard, FDA, SFDA certificates required among others, we also require manufacturer trained engineers from the vendor.

Specifications, have come from the manufacturer just remove any reference or particular items that are unique to any manufacturer. If we have a tender for an x-ray machine I will send the specifications to Philips, Siemens and GE to ensure that nothing is biased to one company.

Anything unique that the end-user wants will be re-named in general terms so as not to appear biased.

I have hundreds of specifications on the PC, modified and updated every time a new tender is required, even have room listings for every function within the hospital.

Sounds like you're in an influential position there, Neil.

But take care ... as you must know, some of those Big Players carry a great deal of wasta.

Not an influential position, more a position of responsibility

Wasta

Geoff, all that is done. Direct purchase is 3 years warranty, tender 5 years. A technical committee is formed to evaluate each tender. After sales service is a major factor in choosing the bids, cowboys still exist here..

Hi Neil,
Do you also keep track of the life cycle of different brands as depreciation may be different from brand to brand that may affect purchasing strategies?

Good to hear that at least some of the traditions are being maintained, Neil.

Herman, surely depreciation is a notional (accounting) figure that is applied across the inventory ... and one which the esteemed Bean Counters are likely to fiddle about with over the typical lifetime of equipment anyway?

In other words, just pick a number (such as 7% pa), and run with it!

To my (traditional) mind, it is more important to keep a close watch on maintenance expenditure, and the point at which further repair work (for example) becomes no longer justifiable (unless special conditions over-ride).

Anyway, you can always add as many fields as you like!