The FBO site is a treasure of small business opportunities to sell to the government. Sometimes they make you wonder whose side they are on?
Anyway, about this time a couple years ago, the ATF Asset Forfeiture unit apparently needed some Leatherman Micra multi-tools, which seems perfectly reasonable. I don’t seize property for a living, but I have found a multitude of uses for my Leatherman tool. But a stock Leatherman wasn’t good enough for the dedicated men and women of ATF Asset Forfeiture. After all, they put their lives on the line day in and day out to confiscate the property of evildoers; don’t they deserve a little extra? With that spirit in mind, DOJ (under which ATF has operated since 2003; before that they operated under Treasury as revenue agents, if you can believe the irony) issued a procurement order for 2000 very special Leatherman Micras.they have since pulled the RFQ's
http://www.fbo.gov/spg/DOJ/BATF/APMD/Awards/DJA08B000084LnALL.htmlhttp://www.fbo.gov/spg/DOJ/BATF/APMD/840400000029/Amendment%20to%20Combined%20Synopsis%5FSolicitation%2003.htmlIt’s pretty dry procurement language, but thanks to Mr. Peabody and the Waybac Machine, here’s the good bit:
Leatherman Micra Color: Blue – Part number 64340101K Engraved with: ATF-Asset Forfeiture AND “always think forfeiture” PLEASE REFER TO THE ATTACHMENT. NOTE: ATF MAY REQUEST A SAMPLE TO DETERMINE IF IT MEETS OUR REQUIREMENT. A picture of the item may be substituted in place of the actual sample.
That’s right. ATF needs special blue Leathermans engraved with “ATF-Asset Forfeiture” and “Always Think Forfeiture”. No, it wasn't a prank, and the sweet irony was that the procurement was awarded to FREEDOM ENTERPRISES of Spokane, Washington for the amount of $37,460.