Mark Wonsil wonders:

> The "single-source" model, sometimes called a monopoly,
> may constitute some trouble for organizations who must
> get bids from multiple sources.  Ken may correct me,
> but I seem to recall while working for a sole-source
> supplier to the Navy that there was extra scrutiny on
> us.

Generally that is correct:  Any need to "sole source" a
buy that exceeds a set limit ($1000 or so IIRC) results
in a noticeable increase in paperwork and an extended
approval cycle...  UNLESS:  That sole souce can qualify
themselves for a GSA contract (which must itself be
competed, but I won't get in to that).  In that case
end-users can buy from a single source just about as
easily as if listing multiple sources...  At least under
current regs (who knows what they will say next year).

But either way, all else being even close to equal it
definitely is preferable to be able to list at least two
sources for a particular item;  i.e.:

Description:  MPE Operating System Emulator.
Source # 1:   Company A
Source # 2:   Company B.

Note as long as the sources are genuinely independent
companies, it might not even have to be two different
emulators; i.e.:  As long as we can get independent bids
for the same product, that (usually) works...  At least
for items in the couple-thousand-dollars or so or less
range...

Ken Sletten