Case Background: In Q3 2025, a municipal sanitation department in Tianshui City, Gansu Province, planned to procure a batch of blue license plate sewage suction trucks for cleaning silt from urban drainage networks, rivers, and low-lying areas. The budget was capped at approximately RMB 390,000 per unit, with an order of three Dongfeng single-cab sewage suction trucks, each requiring a 5 m³ tank capacity. According to local procurement practices, these vehicles are primarily intended for pre-rainy-season silt removal preparation, demanding durable chassis, reliable superstructures, and rapid delivery. During the public tender process, five suppliers submitted quotations. One out-of-province supplier quoted as low as approximately RMB 109,000 per unit—nearly 20% below the market average; another quoted around RMB 125,000 per unit. Chengli Special Purpose Vehicle Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as "Chengli") quoted approximately RMB 128,000 per unit—a price falling well within the reasonable range according to publicly available tender information. Ultimately, the department selected Chengli’s proposal after identifying significant risks hidden behind the lower bids. The Pitfall of Low Bids: Risks Associated with Quotes 20% Below Market Price In special-purpose vehicle procurement, quotations more than 20% below market price often indicate compromised configurations or inadequate after-sales support. For sewage suction trucks specifically, the typical landed price (including tax) for a standard blue license plate 5 m³ model ranges between RMB 117,000 and RMB 135,000, depending on chassis brand, tank material quality, and functional configuration. Low-cost suppliers may reduce costs through the following means: Chassis Downgrades: Use of non-standard or outdated chassis—for example, omitting ABS systems, reducing leaf spring count, or even employing counterfeit 'cloned' chassis—rendering the vehicle ineligible for official registration. Superstructure Cost-Cutting: Reducing tank wall thickness from the standard 4 mm to 3 mm; eliminating anti-corrosion coatings; substituting hydraulic systems with low-tier domestic brands—resulting in poor sealing performance and frequent leakage. Non-Compliance with Official Announcements: Using vehicles not listed under the corresponding MIIT (Ministry of Industry and Information Technology) announcement, delivering units whose actual specifications deviate from those approved—thereby jeopardizing license plate registration and annual inspection compliance. Inadequate After-Sales Support: Promising 'lifetime service' without physical service centers; spare parts delivery delays of 1–2 months—or even complete vendor disappearance. In the Tianshui case, the low-bid supplier’s sample vehicle featured an indistinct chassis nameplate, rough hydraulic pipe connections, and failed to provide clear MIIT announcement parameters. By cross-referencing Chengli’s knowledge base (e.g., model CLW5070GSSD6), the procurement team confirmed discrepancies between the low-bid vehicle’s tank dimensions and its official MIIT announcement—leading to final rejection of that proposal. Common Cost-Cutting Practices: Dongfeng Single-Cab Sewage Suction Truck (Blue License Plate, 5 m³) The Dongfeng single-cab sewage suction truck (blue license plate, 5 m³) is a widely used municipal sanitation vehicle. Its standard configuration should include: an original Dongfeng chassis (e.g., EQ1075SJ3CDF), a Guo VI-compliant engine from Quanchai or Yunnan Diesel Engine, a hydrodynamic transmission system, a high-strength tank (4 mm wall thickness), hydraulic locking devices, and anti-rust treatment. The table below compares typical differences between a 'low-cost solution' and Chengli’s solution: Comparison Item | Low-Cost Solution (~RMB 98,000) | Chengli Solution (~RMB 115,000) ---|---|--- Chassis Brand | Non-standard Dongfeng chassis (no MIIT announcement) | Original Dongfeng chassis (full MIIT announcement compliance) Ta