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August 11, 2006
Bicycle specification and sourcing nears completion in Zambia
by F. K. Day
There are three important considerations in supplying bicycles to a project like Project Zambia
#1: Choose the right bike for the intended use.
The bike must be strong to withstand the rough roads and paths of Zambia, and be able to carry more than 50kg of equipment or two people. It must be simple to operate without any training. It must be simple and reliable to maintain. There must be a ready supply of spare parts, and competent people available to fix the bikes or training available to empower individuals to fix their own bikes. We prioritize as much local content as possible, either in having the bicycle fully manufactured locally or at least fully assembled locally. The bike must be culturally appropriate, in that, it must meet the above needs and not create an unnecessary social rift between those who have and those who do not.
#2: Choose the right partner/supplier.
Operating in conditions found in rural Zambia requires a simple, robust, and ultimately flexible plan. The deeper one operates in the field the less likely one's plans will remain intact. If a quality issue makes it into the field, the disruption is huge and the cost of correcting the issue is high. With this in mind, communication with our partners is required at a both high and committed level, and a spirit of teamwork must prevail. Our partners must be of sufficient size, commitment, and resources to execute a project of this size, and to support all objectives through the life of the program. Our supplier must also have a quality system that ensures that bikes delivered in the field meet our specification and expectations. There must be a history of quality adherence and a plan in place to address quality-related issues before they get in to the field. We want them large enough to be stable and small enough to be nimble.
#3: Pricing and value.
Our purchasing values reside in points #1-#2 above, and because we have uncovered several viable bicycle sources in Zambia, I am confident that we will achieve the best pricing and program value. We are still in the selection process and are targeting final selection by end of August. I will update on the selection at that time.
Thank you for your support.
The Power of Bicycles™
