Gov't required paperwork

So I got this ARMY/NG full size van in the shop.

Seems like someone drove it and returned it without mentioning that the side impact airbags had deployed. They just stuffed them back up into the headliner and parked it. Next guy gets in it and notices the indicator on the dash and reports it. However they do not know who was driving it when they deployed. Best answer for the deployment is that this thing almost rolled over which triggered the roll over sensor causing the side bags to come out. They bring it to me for estimating the extent of the damages. However since there was a deployment of a SRS component, there can be no guarantee that the front airbags would deploy in another collision so it gets parked here. Almost 1 month so far.

Now comes the fun part.........trying to get authorization to repair it and arrange payment for the repairs.

I have spent about 2 hours so far filling out online forms and discussing it with various alphabet soup titles trying to figure out who and when this will get resolved. Local contact gets just enough info for the immediate needs. Then finds out that they should have gotten more info before submitting the info so back on the phone again. Come to find out that due to the cost, I should have never submitted a bid because I am not listed on the .gov list of approved vendors. Had to get a D & B number, then apply for a CCR listing. Now wait 4-5 days before I can fill out another form using the CCR number......AAAARRRRGGGGHHHHHH


And they wonder why things cannot get done..............


Rick

Impound it and start charging a storage fee.

So after all the required paperwork has been submitted, I am finally a registered GSA vendor. Whoop - de - friggin - doo !!

So that means that I can do work for the .gov They fax over 14 pages which includes the p.o. and directions on how to proceed. In the paperwork, they also mention certain requirements that I as a vendor MUST conform to. This includes descriptions of minimum wage and benefit packages that I MUST give my employees. Included in there is a provision that I must give the employees 2 weeks paid vacation after 1 year of service, 3 weeks after 8 years service, and 4 weeks after 15 years service !!!!
I MUST also give a minumum of 10 paid holidays per year and they are specified. However I could substitute the days if i wanted to. But I still have to give the 10 days off with pay.


And now after we got that all done, I go to order the parts. The passenger side roof air bag module is on a national back order. There is none listed in the entire friggin' country. The dealer wanted to send me all of the other parts however nothing can be installed unless I can install the entire replacement SRS system.

Another GM saga for Smitty to stew about !!!!!!




Rick

sooo, after all that. Is it really worth playing with the "big boys".
I've done work for penndot on a stone bridge in Evensberg State Park in the 80's and after all that was needed to "work" it wasn't worth the hassle.

My son went thru all the hoops years ago to bid for some irrigation work on the North Side of Pittsburgh, after putting in his bids the work went to an out of state firm that had bid higher & then they wanted to hire him to sub-contract. He did some then had to winterize the job before they even tested it, I still have some of the parts in my garage since he never did go back but he got paid eventually.

Actually, this will be a nice job to do. I based my pricing on dealing with a certain "hassle " factor.

Even with this additional work it is still job costing well. And I will be the only local vendor for additional work.

But I have learned that there are some other factors that will have to be added for any other work required through the system.

Now if only GM would locate the parts I need !!!!!!


On a side note, I received a call from D & B today wanting me to sign up for a $69.95/month service in which they will monitor my status with them to raise my rating so I can get more work through the system. I think the real system improvement will be to D & B's bottom line if I would sign up with them.....



Rick

glad things seem to be working out. It's the same pay to play system with govt. You need to be part of the system to get the work. Don't forget your working for the govt.,lowest bid and a good job dosen't get the work, it's who ever has all the credentials. Hope more work follows thru.

Fine example of big bloated government .... and the company it bailed out at our expense. So typical.

Hope you at least get some of our tax dollars out of the job!