PACLOCK

[rx6006]

Believe it or not, at the government contractor level we've found our status as a small business, woman owned business, or even a business that has employed disabled workers (more than 10% of our workers are) doesn't really help with the large government contracts. We do it (hire disabled workers, etc.) because it just plain feels right. We hope that we can continue to do so.

The woman owned/operated part wasn't a business model decision either. We're family owned and, like anything attached to a family, there is a lot of history. Patty (mother-in-law who handles our finances and who has been with the business the longest) is the majority owner. It will likely stay that way until she's ready to retire.

As for the improvements to our locks, we're running some preliminary field tests right now on improved cylinders... to help with bumping and picking. Hopefully those test will meet our expectations and we'll expand our tests from there.

This forum is likely a good spot for us to leverage members' expertise in testing our improvements. Our hope is to be noticeably better than Master ~ while maintaining affordability and our U.S.-made end product status. That's hard to do when Master's are a Mexican end product.

Thanks for your comments ~

Greg

Thanks for the input, Greg. I wasn't aware that federal contracts aren't more apt to award under the aforementioned criteria; perhaps that's more of a state government issue. Regardless, kudos to you for running a business based on doing the right thing; it's a big reason we should all support small businesses when possible. Best of luck in your pursuits to present a quality product while operating under extremely tight budgetary expectations; I look forward to hearing about your progress.

[PACLOCK]

The government is supposed to offer incentives... it's just been our experience that when push comes to shove it's hard as a small business to get a fair shake from the government procurement officials. As an example, two years ago we bid a contract against Master (who, until we came along, have had a monopoly supplying these products) and our bid was a half-million dollars cheaper than theirs. We lost and the rational offered for this decision, from our humble perspective, was very questionable. But what is a small business to do in a situation like that?

If you're interested, we're literally fighting right now for the government not to extend a contract that Master has for these DG padlocks. It ends in March, but at the discretion of the government contractor it can be extended or another year. PACLOCK's product is cheaper, we're a US Made End Product, small business employing Americans, and offering at least a like product to Master if not better.

We are trying to convince the contractor NOT to extend the contract and put it out for rebid. Give us a chance to compete and save the government money. What's more, by the time that contract would get re-awarded I expect my government padlock to be far superior in many ways (we're not just redesigning the cylinder, but also the manner in which the manufacturing of the lock body happens... the body will be entirely US made). So the military would be getting a better padlock than the DG for a better price from a family business.

If you'd like to help (and you're in the military especially), would you mind calling the contractor and asking that they listen to the people in the foxholes (literally) and rebid the contract? Here's the info:

Contract #: SPM5L5-08-D0260
Contracting Office: Defense Supply Center Philadelphia, Land Detachment
Operations Chief: Ruth Herman, tel: (215) 737-8088
Contract Administrator: Carol Sands, tel: (215) 737-3013

Just give a call to Ms. Sands and ask her not to extend Master's contract. That would be extremely helpful!

Sorry for the long post, but we're at a critical juncture and I'm hoping a few of you might take the time to make the call. Please let me know if you have any questions. My e-mail and phone number are on our website if you want to talk directly.

Thanks,
Greg

[mh]

Not working for the government but for a large corporation, I usually see that small-business contractors are not the favourite choice. Simply because a large business seems to be more resistent to economical crisis etc and might thus be more reliable, and maybe because they fit the various bureaucratic overhead requirements better.

I hope that the government has other explicit rules, though - but I think around here, what they try to do for small businesses is tax-policy based, not government contracting based.

Cheers
mh

[RevDisk]

If you enjoy a week in the brig, then go ahead, but otherwise I'd stay away from a lock securing live ammo, rifles, etc, someone walking by may find it a reasonable act to shoot you on the spot or at the very least give you a very hard time about it. Saying the armorer told me I could, won't go very far.

Shooting suspicious individuals picking a lock is unlikely. Fewer people on a military post are armed than off post. Unless you are at the range, virtually the only folks that are armed are on-duty MP's. They are not in the habit of randomly shooting folks even for suspicious behavior.

If you need or want to borrow a lock, most supply or armorer folks (who often get the fun task of being 'key box guy/gal') are more than happy to sign you out one. Usually, they don't care if you're using it to secure something or attempting to pick it. As long as it doesn't end up on eBay, they don't care and neither do the brass.

That said, attempting to pick a lock in usage would be noticed. Especially if it is outside your unit.


I am curious to see how well PACLOCK branded padlocks are constructed. I notified some old buddies in supply to keep eyes open for some. You'd be surprised how often folks lose their keys and supply has to cut them off. Or probably not. Every supply guy I've ever known has a hefty bolt cutter somewhere handy for that very reason. I'm hoping to rescue some cut padlocks from the trash bin and dissect them.

[InsertPickHere]

Just got 15 paclock's in today I'll try and take one apart and get some photos for you guys. I was disappointed at first as I was hoping for some american 5200's to re-key. I saw the laminated body and my heart sunk until I saw 'Pacific Lock' on them, and then I recalled this thread =]

[InsertPickHere]

Went and tore one apart!

[PACLOCK]

Would you mind letting me know if the lock was in a plain white box (packaging) or was it in a nicer printed box? Actually, does the label say "U.S. Made End Product" because that will let me know what I'm looking for?

Prior to 2009, we manufactured these locks overseas. But with the new contract that we have we're producing parts in the US and doing the assembly here as well. It's these locks that I'm curious to see if they're making it to the field already (we only started shipping them back in May 09).

Thanks!
Greg

[InsertPickHere]

The lock is the US made on with the printed packaging. Photos are available here.

They've made it to Iraq already!

[kf5hwa]

Being new to the hobby I enjoy the PACLOCKS. They present a slight challenge while not being overly difficult. I am glad to see a US Company in the mix with Govenment Suppliers. Thank you, Paclock! Keep on it. Well done.