Question

You have been requested to buy 100 hospital beds for a humanitarian effort in Pedonia. The beds need to be delivered within the next 30 days so they can be airlifted to Pedonia via military transport. Your research has indicated that:

The Committee for Purchase From People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled does not supply beds.
Federal Prison Industries can deliver the beds in 45 days. The price per bed is $250.
A-Med, Inc. can deliver the beds in 15 days at a price of $225 per bed.
The Army hospital on post, which has been closed, will have 150 suitable excess beds in 21 days.
Based upon this information, you should:
a) Purchase from Federal Prison Industries
b) Purchase from A-Med, Inc.
c) Wait for the Army hospital's excess beds
d) Explore other sources

Answer 1

The best option is to b. purchase the hospital beds from A-Med, Inc. since they offer the required number of beds within the 15-day delivery window at a price of $225 per bed, ensuring that the humanitarian effort needs are met promptly and efficiently.

Step-by-step explanation:

When considering how to procure 100 hospital beds for a humanitarian effort in Pedonia, several factors must be evaluated. The Committee for Purchase From People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled does not supply beds, leaving three other options.

Federal Prison Industries offers a delivery timeline of 45 days at a price of $250 per bed which does not meet the 30-day requirement. A-Med, Inc. is capable of delivering the beds within 15 days, and at a cost of $225 per bed, which is both timely and cost-effective. Lastly, the Army hospital will have 150 excess beds available in 21 days, but the details regarding the cost or the feasibility of making these beds available for the airlift are not provided.

Based on the given information, the most viable option would be b) Purchase from A-Med, Inc. because they can meet the deadline and offer a competitive price. Although obtaining beds from the Army hospital is a potentially economical source, it poses a risk regarding the exact availability date for transportation and lacks cost information. Without that information, it would not be advisable to rely solely on this option.