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Previously, officers like Ms Lim were ferried around in a van as they had non-foldable bikes.
Now, their new foldable bikes have resulted in monthly transport savings of S$600 per officer as they are able to get around by themselves.
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- CNA/ms
Should get nat geo or discovery channel to do a documentary with officer Jacyln Lim, with the media crew following her on her daily 40km/day inspection tour for a week.
Notice the publication of request for quotation is only a few days from date of tender closing.
This is the best ideas. Then spot check every few day in case they do it for show.
Think peasant stupid many people take up cycling sport.
While I can emphatize with officers out field, but I would like to see how the interviewee perform 40km/day inspection within the 6.5 work hours. :o
Tell me 15km/day, riding and inspection I can accept, but 40km/day......read leow a bit tulan. But I give her the benefit of doubt:p...........she must show the public that it can be done with consistency, without any compromise to the quality of inspection.......... to justify the purchase.
I wonder the interviewee wear "white" underwear :o
While I can emphatize with officers out field, but I would like to see how the interviewee perform 40km/day inspection within the 6.5 work hours. :o
Tell me 15km/day, riding and inspection I can accept, but 40km/day......read leow a bit tulan. But I give her the benefit of doubt:p...........she must show the public that it can be done with consistency, without any compromise to the quality of inspection.......... to justify.:o
I love your proposal. Make it a 1 week documentary. I am sure her backside will open flower. A good lesson for her not to use words like "daily" without much thought.Should get nat geo or discovery channel to do a documentary with officer Jacyln Lim, with the media crew following her on her daily 40km/day inspection tour for a week.
SIM37_ Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 452 | <!-- message -->More info I found on my CSI attempt on this blog. REFLECTIONS ON CHANGE: NParks's Brompton Bicycles — A Path Less Travelled NParks's Brompton Bicycles — A Path Less Travelled Singapore's National Parks Board recently bought 26 Brompton foldable bicycles costing $2,200 each for its officers to use on patrols. NParks's tender notice set out the following specifications for the bicycles — — Be foldable. — Can be brought onto public buses and MRT trains. — Have 16-inch wheels. — Weigh between 13 kg and 15 kg. — Have at least 6 speeds. — Be provided with one year's warranty and free basic servicing. Only one company — apparently not the agent or an authorised dealer for Brompton bicycles — submitted a bid, listing two models, with the Brompton bicycles being the cheaper alternative. According to NParks, it proceeded with the purchase since the proposal met its specifications and it found the price to be reasonable after comparing with market prices at that time. Minister for National Development Khaw Boon Wan said he accepted NParks's explanation. This episode raises many questions, nevertheless. What amount was originally budgeted for each bicycle and for the bicycles in total? On what basis was the budget for the bicycles prepared? What was the highest level in the Ministry of National Development that was aware of, and concurred with, the provision for the 26 bicycles in NParks's budget? It is unlikely that the Minister or the Permanent Secretary overseeing a budget of $2.5 billion for FY2012 would have the time to scrutinise an approximately $60,000 detail in the budget. What was the highest level in NParks that was aware of, and concurred with, the provision for the 26 bicycles in its budget? It is unclear (though not improbable) whether the CEO of NParks overseeing a budget of $259 million for FY2012 would have the time to scrutinise an approximately $60,000 detail in the budget. Were both the $2,200 price for each bicycle and $57,200 for the 26 bicycles within the approved budget? If not, was approval obtained for the higher amount or amounts? At that point, who in the Ministry of National Development and NParks became aware of this item? How many brands of bicycles sold in Singapore were capable of meeting NParks's specifications? Is it necessary for NParks's bicycles to have precisely 16-inch wheels and at least 6 speeds? Was NParks aware of other brands of bicycles that were capable of meeting its specifications? What is the economic life of the Brompton bicycles based on NParks's intended intensity and type of use? The durability of an asset is not independent of the cost of acquiring the asset. What is the expected cost of maintaining each of the Brompton bicycles based on NParks's intended intensity and type of use of the bicycles? Both the cost of acquiring an asset and the cost of maintaining it over its economic life have to be taken into account when deciding which asset to acquire. On what defensible basis did NParks arrive at the conclusion that the $2,200 price of each Brompton bicycle was reasonable? Why did NParks not call a fresh tender after receiving only one bid, and proactively invite other known suppliers of foldable bicycles? Was there an urgent requirement to procure the bicycles? Was NParks aware that it was buying the bicycles from a supplier which is not an authorised dealer for Brompton bicycles and the consequences of its doing so? Does NParks require only 26 bicycles for its officers to use on patrol or does it plan to buy more bicycles for its officers soon? While $57,200 is a minuscule amount in the context of NParks's budgeted expenditure of $259 million for FY2012, does NParks apply the same mindset when managing its budget? Perhaps, the Auditor-General should review NParks's procurement practices. The new bicycles are said to enable NParks's staff to reach field sites directly and individually using public transport, and eliminates the need for an office van to take them and their bicycles to the various sites. How much extra time will now be needed by NParks's staff to travel from their offices to their field sites (and return to their offices) by public transport? What is the fate of the office van? Will it become idle or redundant or will NParks somehow find some new use for it? What is the fate of the driver of the office van? Will he/she become redundant and retrenched or will NParks somehow find some new duties to occupy him/her? <!-- / message --> |
NParks field officer Jacyln Lim cycles about 40 kilometres a day for tree inspections.
Previously, officers like Ms Lim were ferried around in a van as they had non-foldable bikes.
Now, their new foldable bikes have resulted in monthly transport savings of S$600 per officer as they are able to get around by themselves.
I thought it was a New "brilliant" idea that they just came out, that resulted them buying the Brompton bikes! But it turns out that they were already using bikes! *Conning Alert* Unless they are trying to say that Brompton bikes perform better and can "enables the officer to cover more ground and do more inspections" than their current bikes. I like to see proof for that..... NParks cited staff productivity as the main reason for the purchase: "Providing staff with bikes was thought to be a simple and effective way to raise staff productivity as it enables the officer to cover more ground and do more inspections within the same time." Link Click Here
Notice the publication of request for quotation is only a few days from date of tender closing.
I don't understand why we can ask so many questions and yet still not satisfied with Npark's action. We still feel that there are suspicions and inconsistency in the whole thing. Some bro even waste his own time and money to do background check on Bikehop, and it raised even more questions. Yet somebody just asked 2 questions and can conclude that Npark bought the right equipment.
=> In other countries, you would see the independent press and the people outside the gate of NParks pressing the govt for a proper answer. In SG?
This operations model discriminates older/senior experienced workers whom may have medical or physical problems. For example, if one has knee injury from reservist or due to aging, then cannot go inspection leow izit?????
If you are one of the officers at nea, please think............................netizens don't make noise for no reason lah.
Bikehop was incorporated in July 2011 with paid up capital of $30,000. There are three shareholders who are also directors. Its registered address is at a detached house at Siak Kew Ave, which is the residential address of one of its director / shareholder.
The company's main business appeared to be conducting bike tour as seen in this Youtube video BikeHop Singapore - Trailer and its website. No mentioned of sales of bike whatsoever on the website.
It has no listing on the Yellow Pages which is strange for a company that purportedly supply / retail bikes. Indeed, the company's name itself (note - its BikeHop not BikeShop) speaks as much.
Bikehop registered on the govt tender portal, Gebiz, in Dec 2011 with financial grade "S3". Under S3, it must have an NTA of $12,500 and Turnover of $250,000, and is allow to tender for project with value of up to $250,000.
Note that the registration on Gebiz came very close to the NParks' call for tender in January 2012. For a brand new company to attain 250K in turnover in 5 months, how many thousand bike tours it has to conduct? Why did NPark accepts the bid from a company with limited or no track record?