Any of you do much sports lighting?

[brantmacga]

Did a couple of decent size (for me) sports lighting projects last year, first for me..... got invited to a design/build sports lighting project that proposals are due on this week. On my previous two projects, we bought MUSCO as specified. With this RFP process, I’ve had manufacturers calling me saying, “if you’ll commit to me, I’ll give you the best number.” I’m no stranger to lighting reps and their ways but this process has been quite strange. I’ve had some “off the record” phone calls with lighting reps telling me they’ll send one price in writing but commit verbally to another on bid day. My design EE, who has a lot of experience in this segment, told me that once the project is awarded, all of the manufacturers will descend upon the customer (school board) to start trash talking each other, and send mail to all of the board members explaining why they made the wrong choice, why their competitors are junk, etc. Also certain manufacturers have throughout this process pushed the customers engineering firm to change specs this way or that in their favor. Like I’ve had reps call and say, “yeh we’re going to get these specs changed just so you know, and our product is the only one that meets this requirement .....” This is bananas. I’ve got some proposals with line after line of deducts or adds to cover them if the specifications do get changed.

If it had not been for covid, I’d never have went after those other two jobs last year. Those jobs carried us when the bread and butter (restaurants) shut down. It’s an interesting market segment with a lot of politicking involved, as most of this work is for school boards and recreation departments.

Ah, one interesting thing I learned along the way with this job; GA Power is bidding against us as a prime contractor. I talked to a friend that is a GPC subcontractor who told me they’ll likely be 150% or more higher than the lowest bid, but they offer financing and tack it onto the utility bill. This guy told me they do a lot of these projects all over the state for BOE’s that can’t afford the up front cost of installing new LED lighting.


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[electrofelon]

With this RFP process, I’ve had manufacturers calling me saying, “if you’ll commit to me, I’ll give you the best number.” I’m no stranger to lighting reps and their ways but this process has been quite strange. I’ve had some “off the record” phone calls with lighting reps telling me they’ll send one price in writing but commit verbally to another on bid day. My design EE, who has a lot of experience in this segment, told me that once the project is awarded, all of the manufacturers will descend upon the customer (school board) to start trash talking each other, and send mail to all of the board members explaining why they made the wrong choice, why their competitors are junk, etc. Also certain manufacturers have throughout this process pushed the customers engineering firm to change specs this way or that in their favor. Like I’ve had reps call and say, “yeh we’re going to get these specs changed just so you know, and our product is the only one that meets this requirement .....” This is bananas. I’ve got some proposals with line after line of deducts or adds to cover them if the specifications do get changed.

Ugggg sales Would hate that job, I dont know how they stand it. Hate dealing with them......Like flies......