Concrete bidding question?

3646 Views 9 Replies 6 Participants Last post by acmconcrete, Jun 22, 2014

acmconcrete

Discussion Starter · Jun 21, 2014

I have currently started a concrete company here in the Tampa/St Petersburg, Florida area. I have had 12 years of experience as a concrete finisher, form carpenter and placing reinforcement, then I have moved up the ladder to Project Engineer for about 5 years then decided to start my own company for this has always been a dream of mine.

I currently am receiving a lot of ITB on commercial projects. I am estimating and managing all projects at this moment.

I would like help from a General Contractor or Concrete Contractor in the estimating process. With your past experience would it be better for me to bid on the footings, slab on grade and other foundation concrete construction or leave the footing to the masonry contractor because of most stem walls?
Also should I be bidding on the foundation excavation?
Currently we bid on the footings, slab on grade, foundation excavation and other concrete construction related to projects. I just feel like I am competing against Masonry Contractors that are bidding on the concrete and masonry (Turnkey) which masonry we do not handle. We have a great competitive and quality producing team but just need a little help on this estimating process. When my company grows more I will hire a estimating professional to take care of most of my estimating procedures but for right now I do not have this luxury.
Thank you for all your help.

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brhokel606

· #2 · Jun 21, 2014

I'm not sure this will help but I bid on all of the work. If there was alot of exavation I would sub that out just due to lack of big equipment. I have Bobcat and mini-excavator but anything bigger I would just sub.

I try not to sub out as much as possible, just to dang hard keeping others on my time schedule and I can not stand waiting on someone else, if I am waiting, it's costing me money and i would just rather do it.

As far a doing the bids, I do all of that. If I make a mistake, it's on me...I can not and do not think I will ever give that up.

One of the other things to consider is, if the subs that put the foundation in do something wront that you did not see, it can ruin you're work over top of it and to be honest, I really only trust my work. I know, I am a control freak.

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slowsol

· #3 · Jun 21, 2014

I work for a large GC that self performs concrete.

My advice would be to see what the GC's and CM's in your area want. In Toledo, OH I would expect a concrete sub to due to footings, foundations, slabs, stone base, reinforcing, excavation, etc.

When I bid in Boston area, the excavation contractor did the excavation and stone base. Different guys bid the flatwork vs. the foundations/footings.

When I bid in Chicago, same thing with the excavators, but steel subs bid the steel directly to me.

It's all dependent on what's typical in your area.

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acmconcrete

Discussion Starter · #4 · Jun 21, 2014

Thank you for your quick answers and your insight. I was currently putting my proposals together with alternate options for the excavation but I feel like I lose work to the masonry contractors that bid on the foundation slab on grade and CMU.

Thank you for the help I will contact some General Contractors in my area and find out what the usual scope of work for their concrete subs may be.

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QCCI

· #5 · Jun 21, 2014

When I bid concrete jobs, I bid all concrete as a total package...footings, piers, foundations, interior & exterior flatwork, curbs, etc including footing excavation or whatever excavation we need to perform our scope.

I will sometimes self perform the excavation but majority of the time hire an excavator. We perform all layout and establishing/setting grades, and just have the operator do what he's good at.

We will furnish, grade and compact the final 4" of base rock under all flatwork. We will furnish, fabricate and install all reinforcing, furnish and install rigid insulation below grade only. We install anchor bolts, steel fabricator typically furnishes them.

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mako1

· #6 · Jun 21, 2014

Good luck down there.I was the superintendent for an ironwork company down there for 12 years.The last job being the ironwork on the Sunshine Skyway Bridge and many condos from Longboat Key down to Key West.It's a cutthroat business down there.At least it was when I was there.Hope things have changed some.

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acmconcrete

Discussion Starter · #7 · Jun 21, 2014

Thank you that's what we currently do but add the excavation as an alternate in the bidding same with curbs sometimes. Florida is a cutthroat state just like someone said. GC's will use our bids to get another contractor to come down on theirs, sometimes I figure on moving operations to another state.

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slowsol

· #8 · Jun 21, 2014

acmconcrete said:
Thank you that's what we currently do but add the excavation as an alternate in the bidding same with curbs sometimes. Florida is a cutthroat state just like someone said. GC's will use our bids to get another contractor to come down on theirs, sometimes I figure on moving operations to another state.

It's called bid shopping and it happens everywhere. Typically performed by the sleezeballs.

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concretemasonry

· #9 · Jun 21, 2014

If you think your bid will be shopped out and you do not get jobs from him, do not bid the job to him. Nothing worse than a shopper without a bid.

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acmconcrete

Discussion Starter · #10 · Jun 22, 2014

There are a lot of GC's down here that like to bid shop plus Im sure as anyone knows that the industry barely has anyone that keeps their word anymore.

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