For your consideration;
A decision already inked. The manufacturer in question has been having a rough time of late.
Their annual financial year reporting is Jan-Dec. What would be better than some good news? An order... any order also required by their own reporting laws hence the protracted negotiation time line before said reporting. After manufacturer reporting/ announcements the cats out of the bag and industrial leverage is lost!
Sit back and bide a little time. No need to rush especially as it’s not even legal yet!