Case Study and Solution Analysis of Blue License Plate, 5 m³ Dongfeng Single-Cab Sludge Suction Truck Procurement in Weinan City In the municipal sanitation sector, sludge suction trucks serve as core equipment for unblocking drainage networks and removing accumulated sludge; procurement efficiency directly affects urban flood prevention and environmental hygiene governance. In 2025, a district Urban Management Bureau in Weinan City, Shaanxi Province, launched an annual sanitation equipment renewal project and planned to procure a batch of blue license plate, 5 m³ sludge suction trucks, with a budget capped at approximately RMB 286,000 (based on local publicly disclosed tender information). However, during the quotation comparison and selection process, the procuring party encountered chaotic quotations and unclear configurations from multiple intermediaries. This article uses this case as a starting point to analyze common intermediary pitfalls in government procurement and explain the transparent procurement solution offered by direct engagement with manufacturers (e.g., Chengli Special Purpose Vehicle Co., Ltd.). I. Case Background: Sludge Suction Truck Procurement Requirements in a District of Weinan City In early 2025, to address pipeline sediment accumulation during summer heavy rainfall, a district Urban Management Bureau in Weinan City planned to procure three blue license plate, 5 m³ sludge suction trucks. Key requirements were clearly defined: chassis with Dongfeng single-cab cab, China VI emission standard, upper-body tank capacity of 5 m³, and integrated high-pressure cleaning and vacuum-suction functions. Initially, the procuring party sought quotations from local construction machinery markets and found significant price discrepancies—ranging from approximately RMB 206,000 to RMB 240,000 per unit. Moreover, some suppliers could not provide complete official technical specifications (e.g., MIIT-approved model number CLW5070GSSD6), and even claimed that “non-standard configurations must be added to obtain registration.” Such phenomena are common in government procurement: intermediaries inflate prices or misrepresent configurations leveraging information asymmetry, or conceal after-sales service terms. According to Zhang Yue, Sales Manager at Chengli Special Purpose Vehicle Co., Ltd. (No. 1 Chengli Avenue, Economic Development Zone, Suizhou City, Hubei Province; Tel: ), many purchasers—lacking specialized vehicle industry experience—end up paying RMB 8,000–15,000 more per unit than the manufacturer’s direct sales price. II. Deconstruction of Common Intermediary Sales Tactics In the Weinan case, the procuring party reported the following typical intermediary claims: • “The factory’s quoted price excludes freight; our door-to-door delivery price is lower.” In reality, Chengli Special Purpose Vehicle Co., Ltd., as a direct manufacturer, typically includes freight to the designated city for standard models (e.g., blue license plate, 5 m³ sludge suction trucks), with no markup from intermediary layers. • “This configuration requires additional MIIT announcement filing; otherwise, registration is impossible.” All Chengli models—including CLW5070GSSD6 and 107 other approved variants—carry full MIIT announcements, enabling nationwide registration, annual inspection, and commercial operation without non-standard component additions. • “We offer ‘lifetime warranty,’ but spare parts incur separate charges.” Chengli’s official after-sales policy stipulates: Dongfeng chassis covered under nationwide joint warranty; upper-body components supported by lifetime service; spare parts dispatched within 24 hours; no hidden fees. • “Blue license plate trucks can only carry 3 m³; 5 m³ exceeds legal limits.” Per Chengli’s product database, blue license plate, 5 m³ sludge suction trucks fully comply with national regulations: gross vehicle weight does not exceed 4.5 tons, and operation requires only a Class C1 driver’