According to the Federal Business Opportunities website, a sole
source contract has been awarded to the Piano
Gallery, Inc. of 1961 Chain Bridge Road in McLean, Virginia for the
purchase of a Steinway Model B 6'11" Ebony Satin grand piano for the
United States Marine Corps Band.
As background information, sole
source contracts are issued when there is only one contractor that can meet the
government's exacting requirements. These contracts must be justified for
one of two reasons:
(
(2) If only one contractor can perform within the required timeframe, the timeframe
must be explained:
(a) provide
the date by which the supplies or services must be delivered.
(b) Indicate
how that date was determined and its significance.
(c) Indicate the impact of delay beyond that date in terms of program schedules,
milestones, etc.
(d) State how long it would take another contractor to acquire the capability to
perform (learning period), how much it would cost another contractor to get up
to speed, and if appropriate, what it would cost the Government in terms of
dollars and manhours to get another contractor up to speed. State the
bases for the above estimates.
Here is a copy of the guidelines for
justifying sole source contracts for the United States Marine Corps:
As further background, here is some information on taxpayers' “new”
piano:
According to Steinway's
website, a Model B built between the years 2000 and 2010 retailed
for between $51,200 and $86,990.
The Steinway now owned by American
taxpayers and being used by the United States Marine Corps. is scheduled for
delivery on September 1, 2013.
Oh yes, and the cost to taxpayers? A
mere $78,100 for a used model. What a
deal!
Finally, money well spent - meaning it doesn't go to some profiteering Wallstreeter or toward buying a bomb or some hand greandes. Unless its for a bored navy general or something. As for the client, I suppose there are good musicians in the Marines but what the hell do THEY want with a piano?
ReplyDeleteIt might be expensive but quality pianos are! A piano is a fine instrument, in competent and skillful hands the music that comes forth has the power to touch your soul and sometimes change the course of your life. In competent, capable but misguided hands, music can be a powerful weapon as well. "Never under estimate the poser of music", said Zubin Metha.
I should know, I play one :)
John
Nice post, but it doesn't make me feel very good about how my tax dollars are being spent. If I may add a little good humored one ups man-ship, I know of a project that the family with the "rights" charged us $80,000 a word. That would be for the recently built $120,000,000 Martin Luther King Jr Memorial in Washington D.C. For more see the post below,
ReplyDeletehttp://brucewilds.blogspot.com/2012/01/only-80000-word.html
I have played the piano for decades and realize the value of music to the soul. That said, while I realize that a Steinway is the Porsche of pianos, sometimes one would hope that austerity would win out. Unfortunately, it seems that when governments spend money, it's easy come, easy go.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comments!