Index of Drawings
Sheet #
A100
A101
A102
A103
A104
A105
A106
A107
A108
A109
A110
A111
A112
A113
A114
A115
A116
A116
A118
Sheet Name
WRITE YOUR OWN ALTERNATES
WRITE YOUR OWN ALTERNATIVES
Many plan sets put out to bid often have mistakes on them or discrepancies between the plans and specifications. Sometimes key information is missing where the subcontractor bidding the work is unable to determine a clearly defined scope of work to estimate.
This can leave them not writing a proposal, passing on work or listing so many exclusions their proposal is not considered by the general contractor.
Depending upon your bid schedule and your specific bid due date, you can submit an RFI (Request For Information) for your specific question. Many times answers or clarifications are either not provided or the response is not done in a timely manner.
So what is somebody supposed to do? A possible option is listed below that will allow you to submit a base bid on what is obvious on the plans and listing those uncertain scopes of work as alternates.
Wood doors and exterior cmu block are listed as examples and help provide options and clarity.
1.
Door schedule - Way to many times the finish column on the door schedule for the wood doors will list them as being stained, match existing or to use building standard.
Door Alternate Link
The door schedule can list many wood doors and if in fact they are stained in the field this can be an expensive item. You will not always be allowed to write a change to cover this additional expense that was left your original proposal.
I put a few documents together from a project I bid to show the lack of clarity and what I did to work around it and cover the entire scope of work even though the plans were incomplete.
Link below will contain the original door schedule, marked up door schedule from the estimating software, excel spreadsheet with door takeoff and written RFI.
2.
CMU block - Here the cmu block in Division 4 of the specification book is listed as being manufactured with an integral color, color pigment or factory finished. Materials legend on the exterior elevations is listing cmu block at painted with block filler and then two (2) coats of elastomeric coatings.
Now I write an RFI to the bidding general contractor asking for clarification if in fact the cmu block is factory finished or painted in the field. When this occurs I just write a separate estimate for the cmu block off the exterior elevations and list it as an alternate.
Posted link for cmu block alternate includes Division 4 specification, exterior elevation, written RFI and sample proposal listing base bid and alternate.
