There are two primary ways that we approach and bid on projects depending on the needs and interests of the client.
Traditional Bid In a traditional bid process, we begin by meeting with you and your architect to discuss the project and learn all we can. Once the design plans are complete, your architect might send them to several contractors for competitive bids.
In preparing a bid, we walk through the process with your architect, drafting questions to clarify the scope and intent. The resulting bid is a comprehensive proposal, often 10 or more pages, that breaks down in detail each item, cost, and deliverable. We enjoy working with you and your design team to reduce costs—either by proposing alternate techniques or by reducing the scope. If we are awarded the project, we create a detailed Critical Path Method schedule that coordinates all aspects of construction.
Collaborative Bid In this approach, rather than simply bidding on a completed design, we work with you and your architect as part of a collaborative team to develop a scope and design that fits your needs and budget.
The process begins similarly to a traditional bid, with an onsite meeting and conversations. We and our subcontractors work with you and your architect to define an overall budget. With that budget in mind, we then perform extensive onsite analysis and collaborate with your architect to develop a scope and design that fit the budget.
The advantage of the Collaborative Bid approach is that clients are more likely to end up with a project that fits their pocketbook—and with a contractor that thoroughly understands every aspect of the design. For architects, this approach provides continual real-world feedback on pricing, as well as a partner in crafting cost effective solutions to knotty mechanical and structural challenges.