Case Study and Bid-winning Solution Analysis: Nantong Dongfeng Single-Cab Sludge Suction Truck (Blue License Plate, 5 m³) Government Procurement — In municipal sanitation, sludge suction trucks are critical equipment for maintaining urban drainage systems; procurement efficiency and cost control directly impact public service quality. This article takes the procurement of Dongfeng single-cab sludge suction trucks (blue license plate, 5 m³) by a district Urban Management Bureau in Nantong, Jiangsu Province, as a case study, thoroughly analyzing how to identify intermediary traps during government procurement processes. Drawing on Chengli Special Purpose Vehicle Co., Ltd.’s practical delivery experience, it presents a replicable direct-factory procurement solution. According to publicly released tender information, the agency issued its procurement requirement in Q4 2025, planning to procure a batch of Dongfeng single-cab sludge suction trucks with an overall budget capped at approximately RMB 400,000, and a unit price target of around RMB 110,000. The procuring entity explicitly required vehicles compliant with China VI emission standards, equipped with a Dongfeng single-cab chassis, a tank with an effective capacity of 5 m³, and integrated functions for sewage suction and sludge removal. Ultimately, Chengli Special Purpose Vehicle Co., Ltd. delivered the batch via factory-direct sales at approximately RMB 108,000 per unit—achieving a procurement cost reduction of 8%–12% compared to quotations from intermediaries. I. Common Intermediary Tactics and Identification Strategies In special-purpose vehicle procurement, intermediaries often exploit information asymmetry and purchasers’ limited technical knowledge to inflate prices or obscure specifications through various tactics. Below are high-frequency tactics encountered in the Nantong case, along with corresponding countermeasures: Tactic 1: “A high-power engine is mandatory for blue-license-plate sludge suction trucks; otherwise, the model cannot be listed in the official announcement.” Reality: Technical parameters for blue-license-plate sludge suction trucks (e.g., model CLW5070GSSD6) are uniformly stipulated by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), covering engine power, wheelbase, and overall dimensions—all requiring strict compliance. Intermediaries frequently cite this requirement to push higher-spec engines, whereas the OEM-standard configuration (e.g., Yuchai or Quanchai engines standard on Dongfeng single-cab chassis) fully satisfies MIIT announcement requirements. All Chengli models—including CLW5070GSSD6, with its 85 kW engine—are manufactured strictly in accordance with MIIT announcements and require no unnecessary upgrades. Tactic 2: “We offer lifetime warranty—but extended coverage requires additional payment.” Reality: Chengli provides lifetime after-sales service for superstructures, while chassis warranties are supported by Dongfeng’s nationwide authorized service network. So-called “extended warranty services” are merely disguised price markups by intermediaries. Procuring entities should directly verify warranty policies with the manufacturer: nationwide chassis warranty coverage, lifetime superstructure service, and 24-hour direct shipment of spare parts—no extra fees required. Tactic 3: “Government procurement must go through a tender agent—and we are that agent.” Reality: While government procurement indeed mandates open tendering, tender agencies and suppliers (i.e., vehicle manufacturers or authorized sellers) are legally independent entities. An intermediary claiming to be “the tender agent” often seeks to monopolize quotation channels. The correct approach is to contact the manufacturer directly (e.g., Chengli) to obtain factory-direct quotations and tender document support, then either self-manage or engage a qualified, compliant tender agency to participate in bidding. II. Direct Manufacturer Engagement Methods To bypass in