Case Study and Bid Analysis of the National VI Dongfeng 3308 mm Wheelbase Sewage Treatment Vehicle Procurement by Xuchang Municipal Government I. Pitfalls of the First Procurement: Hidden Costs Behind Low-Bid Winning In 2023, a municipal sanitation department in Xuchang (hereinafter referred to as the 'Xuchang Department') launched an open tender for two sewage treatment vehicles to meet urban sewer network maintenance needs. The budget was capped at approximately RMB 503,000. Ultimately, a small out-of-town manufacturer won the bid with a unit price of around RMB 210,000. According to publicly available tender information, this bid was about 15% lower than the market average — seemingly offering exceptional cost-effectiveness. However, numerous issues emerged after vehicle delivery: poor chassis compatibility (an outdated wheelbase chassis was selected, resulting in subpar maneuverability); failure to meet sewage treatment efficiency requirements (daily processing capacity reached only 70% of the promised value); and slow after-sales response (spare parts required over seven days for delivery). More seriously, the vehicle failed its annual inspection in the second year due to non-compliance with National VI emission standards (it was, in fact, a National V upgraded version), directly disrupting scheduled operations. As a result, the Xuchang Department incurred nearly RMB 80,000 in additional repair and retrofitting costs — pushing the total expenditure above the original budget. This experience delivered a profound lesson: a low purchase price does not equate to low total cost; overlooking hidden factors such as chassis selection, official vehicle announcements, and after-sales support ultimately leads to significant losses. II. How to Avoid Pitfalls in the Second Procurement: Precise Vehicle Selection and Direct Manufacturer Procurement Logic In 2025, the Xuchang Department initiated a second procurement round, planning to acquire one additional sewage treatment vehicle, with a budget capped at approximately RMB 391,000. Learning from prior experience, they adopted a three-step vehicle selection process: 1. Clarify Core Requirements: National VI Dongfeng 3308 mm Wheelbase Chassis Based on operational conditions (narrow urban roads and densely laid sewer networks), the Dongfeng 3308 mm wheelbase chassis was selected — offering a small turning radius, superior maneuverability, and full compliance with National VI emission standards (similar to the CLW5070GSSD6 model configuration). Full vehicle type-approval documentation was also mandated to ensure smooth registration, annual inspection, and commercial operation. 2. Supplier Comparison: Transitioning from 4S Dealers to Direct Manufacturer Procurement The Xuchang Department contacted Chengli Special Purpose Vehicle Co., Ltd. As a local manufacturer based in Suizhou, Chengli offers factory-direct sales, eliminating intermediary markups. Public tender data indicates that direct procurement from the manufacturer saves approximately RMB 12,000 compared to 4S channel pricing for identical configurations. Moreover, Chengli maintains a comprehensive product database of 946 models across 44 categories — covering specialized vehicles including sewage treatment units — and has served over 500 municipal clients (e.g., 15 street sweepers for Wuhan Urban Management Bureau; 10 water sprinklers for Henan Provincial Sanitation Department), demonstrating extensive industry experience. 3. Finalize Delivery and After-Sales Assurance Ultimately, the Xuchang Department selected Chengli’s solution: Dongfeng 3308 mm wheelbase chassis + National VI emissions compliance + high-efficiency sewage treatment system. The vehicle unit price was approximately RMB 328,000 (per public tender data), keeping the total landed cost within budget. Chengli committed to a standard delivery timeline of 7–15 days for regular models; the chassis is covered under Dongfeng’s nationwide original-equipment warranty,