3 Signs Your Vendor is a Steward for Your Department
Fire departments often choose vendors based on price. With the way government contracting works, it might not seem like you have a choice.
But there are hidden costs to choosing the wrong vendor.
A vendor’s responsibility doesn’t end with your equipment. They are the stewards of your budget, your peace of mind and the lives of your firefighters.
And one bad recommendation could cost you thousands. Or worse.
Here are green flags that your vendor isn’t going to
royally f … er … make things harder in the long run.
PRIORITIZE SAFETY
We’ll be the first to admit that safety feels like a buzzword in the industry these days.
But trust us, your vendor must treat it like a sacred word – the core of every decision made and the foundation of every company’s ethos.
If they’re cutting corners to make a few extra bucks – or they just don’t care – you’ve got to give them the boot.
Ask yourself:
Do they explain why they’re making a recommendation?
Do they follow standards even when shortcuts would be easier?
Are they willing to tell you something is unsafe, even if it’s a hard conversation?
FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE
One example has always stuck with us.
Years ago, when the U.S. Air Force purchased a generation of SCBAs, spare parts kits were readily available through GSA.
Many vendors routinely recommended buying more kits than departments actually needed. At overseas bases, every incoming rotation was told to purchase another batch.
Eventually, some bases had hundreds of unused spare parts sitting on shelves. Millions of taxpayers’ dollars ultimately ended up in DRMO.
They weren’t trying to waste money. But they also weren’t being good stewards.
Ask yourself:
Are they repairing equipment whenever possible and appropriate?
Do they explain replacement recommendations?
Are they thinking about the total cost over the life of the equipment?
BRAND NEUTRALITY
A vendor who’s tied to a manufacturer might be incentivized in ways you don’t see.
There’s nothing wrong with that.
But wouldn’t you rather a vendor who’s making recommendations solely on what’s best for your department?
Vendors should be able to recommend (or not recommend) any repair or part based on what’s best for you – not a manufacturer.
Ask yourself:
Do they explain why they’re making a recommendation instead of simply pushing a product?
Do they recommend repair, replace, or continue using equipment based on what’s actually best?
Are they upfront about who they work with and in what capacity?
At the end of the day, anyone can test hoses. It takes integrity – stewardship – to handle your equipment, taxpayers’ dollars, and firefighter safety with the care they deserve. Choose wisely.