Fixed price is a phrase used in Indian English to mean that no bargaining is allowed over the price of a good or, less commonly, a service. As bargaining is very common in many parts of the world outside of Europe and North America, this makes this an exception from the norm in these areas.
In the United Kingdom fixed price has a similar meaning, and commonly indicates that an external party (often the government) has set a price level, which may not be varied by individual sellers of a good or service.
As part of their rule of honesty and plainness, Quakers set a fixed price for their wares.
Fixed-price contract
A fixed-price contract is a contract where the amount of payment does not depend on the amount of resources or time expended, as opposed to a cost-plus contract which is intended to cover the costs and some amount of profit. Such a scheme is often used in military and government contractors to put the risk on the side of the vendor, and control costs. However, historically when such contracts are used for innovative new projects with untested or undeveloped technologies, such as new military transports or stealth attack planes, it can and often results in a failure if costs greatly exceed the ability of the contractor to absorb unforeseen cost overruns.
However, such contracts continue to be popular despite a history of failed or troubled projects, though they tend to work when costs are well known in advance. Some laws have been written which prefer fixed-price contracts, however, many maintain that such contracts are actually the most expensive, especially when the risks or costs are unknown.[1]
Tom Enders, Airbus’s German chief executive, believes the fixed-price contract for the A400 transport was a disaster rooted in naivety, excessive enthusiasm and arrogance. "If you had offered it to an American defence contractor like Northrop, they would have run a mile from it". He states that unless the contract is renegotiated, the project must be abandoned.[2]
For example, the A-12 Avenger II development contract was a fixed-price incentive contract with a target price of $4.38 billion and ceiling price of $4.84 billion. It was to be unique stealthy flying wing design. On 7 January 1991, the Secretary of Defense canceled the program. It was the largest contract termination in DoD history. Rather than saving costs, the craft was projected to consume up 70 percent of the Navy's aircraft budget within three years.[3]
See also
References
- ^ [1]Fixed-price contracts required by stimulus law By Matthew Weigelt Feb 17, 2009
- ^ [2] Heavy going - Apr 8th 2009 The Economist The future of Europe’s high-tech military transport hangs in the balance
- ^ [3] A-12 Avenger II Advanced Tactical Aircraft (ATA) - 1983-1991
