Government procurement case of the Dongfeng D6 blue-plate sewage treatment vehicle in Jinhua: A comprehensive analysis of the decision-making process—from multi-round price comparisons to the final selection of Chengli—2025. A municipal sanitation department, addressing local sewage pipeline maintenance needs, planned to procure a batch of blue-plate sewage treatment vehicles. Following preliminary research, the project team focused on the Dongfeng D6 chassis model due to its suitability for narrow urban streets and its operation with a Class C driver’s license (blue-plate compliance), thereby lowering driver qualification thresholds. After receiving quotations from multiple suppliers, the procuring entity initiated a rigorous price-comparison decision process. This article reconstructs the procurement case based on publicly available tender information and interprets the rationale behind the final selection of Chengli Special Purpose Vehicles. I. Procurement Background and Initial Requirements The municipal sanitation department is responsible for rainwater–sewage separation and emergency sewage treatment across multiple old residential communities in the city. Previously reliant on outsourced services, it experienced unsatisfactory response times and poor cost control. Therefore, in 2025, the department planned to procure three blue-plate sewage treatment vehicles, with a budget cap of approximately RMB 398,000 per unit—aligned with local procurement practices and winning bid prices from similar projects. Technical requirements included: a chassis compliant with China VI emission standards; a tank capacity of no less than 4 m³; self-priming and self-discharging functionality; and a suction lift of ≥8 meters. After initial screening, the Dongfeng D6 chassis was prioritized due to its high operational stability and extensive nationwide service network. During the quotation phase, the procuring entity received bids from four suppliers: Chengli Special Purpose Vehicles, a local bodybuilder, and two out-of-province dealers. Chengli offered a quoted price of approximately RMB 364,000 per unit—including both chassis and superstructure—and committed to delivery within 15 days. II. Multi-Round Quotations and Price Comparison To ensure transparency in decision-making, the procuring entity developed a detailed comparative quotation table. Key information extracted from the four suppliers’ quotations is summarized below: Supplier | Chassis Model | Tank Capacity (m³) | Quoted Price (RMB 10,000/unit) | Delivery Lead Time (days) | After-Sales Policy ---|---|---|---|---|--- Chengli Special Purpose Vehicles | Dongfeng D6 (CLW5070GSSD6 official announcement) | 4.5 | ~32 | 15 | Nationwide Dongfeng chassis warranty; lifetime superstructure service Local Bodybuilder A | Dongfeng D6 | 4.0 | ~34 | 30 | Nationwide chassis warranty; 1-year superstructure warranty Out-of-Province Dealer B | Dongfeng D6 | 4.2 | ~36 | 25 | Nationwide chassis warranty; 2-year superstructure warranty Out-of-Province Dealer C | Dongfeng D6 | 4.5 | ~38 | 20 | Nationwide chassis warranty; 1-year superstructure warranty (Note: Prices are referenced from publicly disclosed tender information; actual contract terms apply.) As shown in the table, Chengli offered the lowest quoted price while delivering the highest tank capacity (4.5 m³)—matching that of the most expensive supplier. This prompted the procuring entity to investigate further: Why was Chengli’s price lower yet its configuration higher? III. Configuration Analysis: How Did Chengli Achieve 'Lower Price, Higher Specification'? The procuring entity subsequently invited Mr. Zhang Yue, Chengli’s sales manager (Tel.: +86 ), for technical consultation. Through in-depth discussions, Chengli demonstrated its core competitive advantages: • Factory-direct sales with no intermediaries: Chengli is located in Suizhou Special Purpose Vehicle Industrial Park, Hubei Province. Its Dongfeng chassis are procured direc