Concrete Construction Pre-Bid Services
When bidding jobs, most concrete contractors rely on their steel suppliers quantities for rebar or painstakingly takeoff the steel themselves. Do the steel suppliers give discounts to their favorite contractors enabling them to win more jobs? Are they pinching more money out of you on their quotes than what the correct quantities really are? You don’t know unless you are behind the closed doors of the supplier.
Most concrete contractors are interested in rebar quantities combined with their concrete takeoffs as a way to double check their suppliers quantities, but there hasn’t been a cost effective way in the past. In 2008, we developed a plugin for digital takeoff software that enables us to drag and drop rebar quantities onto our concrete takeoff. For flatwork, curbs, tilt walls, footings, etc. we simply drag and drop pre-formulated assemblies onto our concrete takeoff.
For details of columns, retaining walls, etc., we simply digitally measure each different rebar detail, count the number on the column, then count how many columns and put that information into formulas that shoot the information into an excel spreadsheet. Until “BIM” (more on BIM another day) replaces plan takeoffs, I don’t know of any similar company that can match what we produce for our clientele at the price we charge.
For samples of our digital takeoffs and rebar reports, please click on the sample links:
- Flatwork
- Tiltwall
- Pilaster Detail
Next is a simple and brief outline of our process.
Our Process
New client process:
- Client discusses current takeoff methodology and requirements. Sends existing documentation for review.
- Build process for current client methodology.
Takeoff for pre-bid process:
- Client discusses project and bid due date.
- Client sends information to download project plans and specifications.
- Plans and specifications review – establish notes.
- RFI (if applicable 3,5,6)
- Concrete quantity takeoff – (type concrete, LF, SF, CU YD, Count, Heights, Widths, etc.)
- Rebar quantity takeoff (weights)
- Report sent to Client
Bid won process (if client requests):
- Rebar diagrams inserted into report
- Labels inserted into report
- Placement inserted into takeoff
Sample Takeoff Report
