[Robert T]

How does the Dodge reports work?
Are there landscape only projects available on them?

I was looking at an on-line plan room and for the most part there were no projects for just landscape so you had to put yourself down as interested in sub-contracting, and hope that you get an invitation form the GC that got the job.

[Paul]

You can subscribe to it and get the info on-line. Then go to the plan room and do your take-off. GC's are listed and you can fax over a bid to them. Why wait for an invite? Landscape only jobs are listed but most are few and far between. Bidding as a sub does have it benefits and drawback. Back up your first bids with job sizes that you can handle.

[Robert T]

Thanks Paul. I didn't consider just sending a bid with out an invite. Thats where i was kind of hesitant about paying the $ to look at the stuff but never getting an invite to bid.

[Nebraska]

I've been visiting a plan room for about the last 10 days reviewing the projects that come through there.....

There are a lot that do come through where one would bid the work to the GC.

Being extremely green to commercial instal work I am on the look out for the smalller projects; one's that we can easily handle and get our feet wet with.

Some of things that I'm noticing in the spec books with regard to the landscape:
Fabric under 3" of mulch
Guarantee plants for 2 years; replace at no cost
Fertilize immediately after planting
Excavate planting holes 3x root ball
Stake with wire and 5/8" hose
....I could go on but my point is that there seems to be a lot of requirements that are very specific and not methods/practices that we follow.

I then notice that the companies that are doing this work are not really following these requirements to the "T".

It seems to be a reall different world with the bid work.

The plan room manager tells me that we should not fax off our bids until the final minutes as the GC will shop your price with their "preferred" contractor.

What are other's experience regarding the specs...??
What about the GC shopping on you if you provide the bid too early?

Finally.....
What's the best way to break into this market with the eventual goal of being that "preferred" contractor for smaller work on projects like restaurants and small strip malls?

[Stonehenge]

Others here are going to give you far better insights than I am, but submitting the plan at the last possible second is something I've been advised, too. Even then you're not guaranteed to not have your price shopped around.

Re: install specs, I've seen the specs and practices differ as you mention.

[Paul]

Most of those specs are boiler plate, no one really cares unless the tree dies..... Follow your install methods. Once you get to know the GC's that are bidding the work you can have a bit more leway on the job timing. Do all GC's shop? most do so inorder to get your feet wet your going to have to be low but not too low that the bid looks wrong. As for the plant guarantee you offer one now right? Most landacapers lose around 5% of their plants we just factor that into our prices.

[Lanelle]

Other things to do include introducing yourself (probably by phone) to the estimators and project managers of the various GCs that you want to bid to. Sometimes they will want the bid put on to their boiler plate bid form. They may have a scope of work that they want you to initial with your bid so they know what's included in your price. Also, its a good idea to ask them about access or any special conditions that may affect your work.
After you've put in a few bids, go in to their bid office and see if they have any negotiated projects under contract that you can
bid. Make a point of meeting/greeting the people involved in the bid process---give them a very quick overview of your company's capabilities. Find out who the decision makers are. If you have good vibes from someone who seems to have the type of work you're looking to win, make a lunch appointment with them.
Look at the plans and take note of the LA firms doing the design
work. Call up a few and offer to bid work for them that isn't going through a GC. Tell them size and scope of what you can handle.
Follow up after bids have been submitted. Find out if they have made a decision or if they need any revisions on your bid. If you don't win the bid, ask gently 'where you were' and what the bid went for. Be patient. Some things bid several times before a contract is awarded. Be prepared to negotiate. Good luck!

[Nebraska]

This is some great information! Thanks!

I notice that some have upwards of 7-8 General Contractors....are you saying a different form for each General Contractor?

Much of this work that I see being bid now is for a number of months down the road... Prices can change quite a bit over time. I assume you can put whatever terms you want in your contract just which becomes a matter of the GC choosing it or not...

On average how many bids can one expect to submit in relation to number of jobs attained.?

What is the benefit of pursuing this line of work?

Is it any easier as compared to residential?

Are profit margins lower than residential?

Is 45 days average turn around on payment?

It would seem to me that this line of work involves breaking into what seems like the "Contractor's Club".


The way that I'm understanding this is that for bid work the GC is just waiting for all the numbers to come in during the last few minutes the bid is due......then just plugs the numbers from what they have chosen.....and off it goes.

By the way the plan room charges $500-$600 a year for this information... Net access is $2400 year.

[Lanelle]

Assume that you will use your own spread sheet setup but be prepared to transfer your numbers if asked to do so.
Most of the work will be several months to two years away. That is one of the questions to ask when you call---When will the job be ready for landscaping? Some GCs will already have a projected schedule that they will share with you. Try to keep your 'number' logic simple because the estimator may have only a few minutes to look at your bid. Best is to figure the future increases into your bid.

There is no average. It all depends on how competitive your bids are and how crazy low others are willing to bid.

The work is easier in terms of less hand holding and sometimes a less stringent quality demand. GCs will often make tough time demands though and then not have the site ready when you show up so you cannot blindly trust the project managers' word, "Yeah, the site is ready for you." You must understand that once you commence work, that you have accepted the condition of the site 'as is' and can be made responsible for pre-existing deficiencies. Paperwork is key. Document, document, document! If the grading contractor made mistakes, you have to point them out before starting your work or as soon as discovered.
Profit is usually lower than residential but you can go in and do a lot of work very quickly. The site is often accessible for using efficient equipment so you can drive down costs. Unfortunately, pay can be rather slow. If you win a bid, find out exactly how the GC's accounting department processes subs' payments. Sometimes by rushing your invoice to them by a certain day you'll get paid several weeks faster. A large, long term project may involve regular interval payments. After you 'win' a bid, the real work starts of negotiating the terms of your contract. Hope that helps.

[vinhcuu]

We are a new manufacturer/provider of hardscape materials and I'm wondering if the Dodge Reports are a good way of detrmining which GCs to contact in order to try to become a new vendor for them for various commercial projects?