[belsarius]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Apples to oranges as this isn't an industry it's public usage. If the government has decided on a specific brand they should have to explain why that brand was chosen and what advantages it offers the populace over other brands. As for RFP's for companies there are many reasons that preferred suppliers are used in industry none that would apply to this;

• Company Preference. This is what they use, it works and they see no reason to change. Many decision makers for big companies are scared to death of trying a new product because if it doesn't work as well they are left to answer the bell for that decision.
• Existing facilities use this product and they don't want to stock spare parts for multiple different manufacturer items. Overhead costs are always a big consideration.
• Few companies can meet the companies strict specifications and in their experience products from other vendors are not as reliable.
• Training for employees. New products require new training which can cost $$$.
• Somebody high up in the company is chummy with a salesman for company X.

Since a bulb is a bulb and they all fit the same fixtures so there's nothing about these Ecofitt bulbs (there are other items such as shower heads that would be lower quantity) that separate them from any name brand offering. In fact I'm willing to bet they aren't even the best bulbs available in terms of longevity and/or light pattern, etc. It's pretty obvious that there are some shenanigans going on here.

Where did the idea it is a Ecofitt brand light bulb that's the issue? The only thing I saw was in the article where the technical term used was "do-dad". He also didn't mention Ecofitt branding, only that the specific "do-dad"s supplier was Ecofitt. Maybe it's a Chinese made shower head that Ecofitt is the Canadian supplier for? Maybe it is a proprietary Ecofitt thermostat.

The point is for me it's a long stretch to go from they are the only supplier I could find for a "do-dad" and the RFP was biased in favour of Ecofitt. Sounds a whole lot more like sour grapes from a guy who lost the bid and is using anger against the NDP to get some air time.