[vendtalk] Delaware Bill Seeks To Expand Blind VendorOpportunities

Mon Jun 24 00:47:10 UTC 2013

To clarify some misunderstandings and keep the dialog going . . . . 

Doing what a manager should do is a given and not questioned by anyone.  

In Texas, we can buy from anyone at any price we can get, just like any
other mom and pop business.  What we cannot do, or at least no one here has
found out how, is to leverage our collective buying into significantly
better pricing.  But even if we could do that, we would not come close to
the volume pricing for some of the same product that the State of Texas
already receives.  

The issue was not that managers have to buy from the state or through their
BEP program.  The proposal, as I understand it, is whether managers can also
select to buy against otherwise existing state contracts negotiated in other
departments and thus benefit by the state's huge volume buying.  This is a
standard technique in other industries for many subcontracting
organizations.  That is, letting the little guy benefit from great pricing
the big guy is getting, usually to get lower end prices to the big guy.  It
only makes since for a manager to also be allowed to buy against state
contracts as an option.  We are selling, after all, mostly to state and
federal employees.  

The idea is about same product, maybe same supplier, better supplier prices
and not having to do much since the government entities are already
negotiating and purchasing. The Texas prison system is probably the largest
single buyer of Coke products in Texas.  They can offer Coke products to
guards and inmates at end-user prices, with required margins, near my best
wholesale cost from Coke under gold FLO pricing, and I cannot sell to
inmates except in visitation.  So, if I can simply invoke the state's
pricing in my purchases and benefit from the state's negotiated low price,
why wouldn't I?  It takes nothing away, but does provide options to me.

And, no, I would not want our state BET program staff to go out and
negotiate supplier pricing agreements and then we have to buy through the
state.  It is not about someone telling you where to buy.  It is about
giving the manager more options and potentially better existing pricing as
an option. 

Mike Vandervoort
Abilene, TX

-----Original Message-----
From: vendtalk [mailto:vendtalk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Rhonda
Hutson
Sent: Sunday, June 23, 2013 6:16 PM
To: Vendor Talk Mailing List
Subject: Re: [vendtalk] Delaware Bill Seeks To Expand Blind
VendorOpportunities

I agree with this! I don't want the state to tell me where I have to buy my
products from! I am the manager, not the state!

Rhonda Hutson
918-962-5445 Home
918-774-3213 Cell
rhondahutson3 at gmail.com
Order Corinthia Falls by Kim Hutson!
www.kimhutson.com/
-----Original Message----- 
From: Dennis Horn
Sent: Sunday, June 23, 2013 4:41 PM
To: 'Vendor Talk Mailing List'
Subject: Re: [vendtalk] Delaware Bill Seeks To Expand Blind 
VendorOpportunities

In most states the BEP/BBE operators are private contractors.  In Florida
this was done by operator choice.  This allows them to shop around and get
the best deals they can.  The outcome has been one of the most envied and
prosperous programs in the country.  I daresay no operator in Florida wants
the state to negotiate prices for them.

On the surface this might seem a means to increase operator profits.  But if
it came about there would be strings attached.  Any benefit would be
mitigated by unforeseen intrusions.  We have to be careful of what we ask
the government for-they only want to help.

My best advice to any operator in this country is to work hard, apply sound
business principles, work hard, rely on yourself, and work hard.  Then, I
guarantee, you will prosper.

Dennis Horn

-----Original Message-----
From: vendtalk [mailto:vendtalk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of
Vandervoort's
Sent: Sunday, June 23, 2013 4:05 PM
To: 'Vendor Talk Mailing List'
Subject: [vendtalk] Delaware Bill Seeks To Expand Blind Vendor Opportunities

Though it is not yet law, I believe that this capability should be the case
for every state's BEP/BET program.  It would allow even the smallest vendor
to get better pricing for product and improve the blind managers'
profitability.  I had asked about this in Texas but was told that state law
forbids the state from passing along any such benefit to private/non-state
businesses or organizations.
(PS - Texas Gov Rick Perry vetoed a bill that would impose dietary
restrictions on sugary drink products sold through vending machines in some
public schools.  The new law would have expanded current laws.)

>From Vending Times
Issue Date: Vol. 53, No. 7, July 2013, Posted On: 6/18/2013
Delaware Bill Seeks To Expand Blind Vendor Opportunities
Emily Jed
Emily at vendingtimes.net

DOVER, DE -- Delaware lawmakers have introduced a bill in the state
Legislature that would broaden economic opportunities for blind residents in
the state by creating snack bars, cafeterias and vending facilities on
federal, state and municipal properties.
Under federal law and state law, Delaware's Business Enterprise Program is
granted priority to operate vending facilities on federal and state
property. The proposed legislation -- HB 139 -- would amend these rules to
allow licensed participants in Delaware's BEP to purchase materials and
nonprofessional services under any central contract negotiated by the state.

Source:
http://vendingtimes.com/ME2/dirmod.asp?sid=&nm=Articles&type=Publishing&mod=
Publications%3A%3AArticle&mid=8F3A7027421841978F18BE895F87F791&tier=4&id=0FD
373C40FBD447EAC61629DA431376A

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