My thinking is the vendors know who has grant money or other govbucks and raise up a little to get their share. I know that when our fire department got it they were not as concerned with cost as when it was all department funds.
Vendors for LE are a VERY competitive bunch. While they don't like to leave money on the table, low bid wins the day because most government entities (not volunteer FDs!) have to play buy the purchasing rules and even five bucks too high can lose a bid.
Our local VFD has the ability to raise funds independent of the county and the ability to spend it as they wish. When it comes time to spend money that is passed through the county through Fire District taxes, they have to play by the county rules for spending and that means low bid, three+ bids, and and increasingly tighter purchasing oversight.
Ed
