DID THE CHP RIG A BID FOR LIGHTS AND SIRENS? DIVING INTO A BID WON BY A MANUFACTURERS REP

What are the unique performance factors of the product specified?
Replacement emergency warning lighting components are specified to each manufacturer and are not available in the aftermarket. the replacement components must physically fit, mount, connect, and operate within the California Highway patrols current Whelen engineering brand lighting system without modification. the CHP's legal requirements for California code of regulations title 13 compliant emergency lighting systems are retained using original equipment manufacturer emergency warning light replacement parts. use of non-– OEM parts and components will void CHP's current manufacturer systems warranty . Approximately 90% of CHP's fleet of approximately 2500 enforcement vehicles uses Whelen's emergency warning light systems. the CHP has been using Whelen lighting systems since 2009. when an enforcement vehicle is no longer usable, the lighting systems are reused after they are removed, inspected, defective parts replaced, and reinstalled on replacement vehicles. this is allowed the CHP to save approximately 40% on costs associated with refurbishing the light systems as opposed to buying new light systems for every replacement enforcement vehicle.

Why are these factors required?
Due to the limited aftermarket for replacement component parts and the proprietary and unique design of each component related to space, operation, and specifications, there are no aftermarket alternatives. the proprietary design and operation of the Whelen engineering brand lighting components limits the replacement components options to replacement with OEM parts. also, the CHP's existing lighting mounting and wiring are designed and fabricated for Whelen engineering lighting components without any modifications to either CHP equipment or their lighting components. this allows a CHP to equip thousands of vehicles that are uniform and consistent in operation, performance, maintainability, and serviceability. all CHP vehicles equipped with emergency warning lights must legally comply with title 13 . Replacement parts using OEM replacement lighting components preserves the manufacturer's lighting title 13 compliance. maintaining CHP's current lighting system manufacturer's warranty is essential to avoid increased out-of-pocket state expenses that would otherwise be covered under the warranty. maintaining uniformity in operation and performance of the emergency warning lighting system and CHP's fleet of enforcement vehicles is necessary for CHP's officers and public safety to avoid having to relearn the operation and functionality of the lighting system as he officers assigned vehicle may vary from day-to-day.

What other products have been examined and rejected and why?
An exhaustive search for legitimate aftermarket replacement parts for women lighting system used by CHP has been conducted but no aftermarket parts are available. this is due to the limited market size of the emergency warning light system suppliers, as well as the manufacturer specific methodology used to power the light-emitting diode lighting components that makes them in compatible or not operate correctly with other manufacturer brands.
due to the manufacturer specific nature of the emergency warning light systems and their components, using another manufacturers component causes detrimental effects to both the component and the rest of the lighting system. the CHP has attempted to use in other manufacturer component to determine if it was possible to get the component to work correctly, but the lighting component would not operate nor even mount correctly.

Switching to a different manufacture's emergency warning light system would create the same issue regarding compatibility with different manufacturers lighting components due to the inherent and unique control and operation that each manufacturer is using. Because uniformity in operation and performance of the emergency warning light system is necessary when used in the CHP officers high stress environment, particularly converting CHP's fleet of enforcement vehicles to an entirely new lighting system was rejected due to CHP officer and public safety.