Planning and Paying for Your Custom Fire Truck
Purchasing a fire truck requires a hefty investment , and it isn ’ t always feasible to pay for it all at once . If your department is planning to purchase a new fire truck and you ’ re considering working with Metalfab , you ’ ll want to know what to expect . In this article , we outline the entire ordering process for your custom fire truck , from configuration to delivery , and highlight the payment options available to you throughout .
What to Expect
The process of purchasing a custom fire truck typically involves a bidding and ordering process , a contract and order review session , an approval package and preconstruction visit , detailed engineering , and attentive manufacturing followed by the final inspection .
The bidding and ordering process comprises communication between all those involved in the purchase of the truck , including members of the fire department , community representatives , group purchasing organizations , and various manufacturers . The process starts with a request for proposal and ends with a signed contract and / or a purchase order to the preferred manufacturer , which we hope is Metalfab !
A fire truck request for proposal details the design and the features desired by your fire department . It includes critical information such as the mission and use of the vehicle , pump size , aerial reach , tank size , length restrictions , overall height , and other critical needs . This document also outlines the responsibilities of the manufacturer such as submission dates , question periods , delivery , bonds , penalties , and insurance requirements .
Each request for proposal includes a rendering which showcases the intricate engineering details for every part of the fire truck . This allows manufacturers to determine if they can meet the needs of your department . Once the request for proposal is complete , your fire department sends it off to the desired manufacturers to obtain a formal proposal for the production of the apparatus . This process sometimes involves advertising the design requirements and inviting any interested manufacturers to submit their proposal to the purchasing committee .
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON WRITING A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL , WE INVITE YOU TO READ OUR HOW-TO ON PREPARING TO DRAFT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL .
When Metalfab receives a request for proposal from your fire department , we then draft our proposal to meet your specifications . Before the proposal can be finalized , a number of items will be reviewed by both you and us , including any special clauses in the contract such as penalties or specific delivery dates . These might also include requests for performance , bid , or payment bonds or other special options . They will also include your requirements for height , length , and weight ; angle of approach and departure restrictions ; aerial tip load calculation , where
6