When people think about architectural services, bid coordination probably isn’t the first thing to come to mind. Still, the bidding process is an important part of every project. Whether you’re gearing up for a remodel, new construction or tenant improvement project, bidding — and bid management — will play an important role.
Oh, and please note, bid coordination for private projects looks a lot different. And since we primarily partner on community bank and credit union projects, that’ll be the focus. So, if you're looking for architectural insights on requests for proposals (RFP) coordination, you won’t find that here.
Selecting a General Contractor
Before project design begins, we have to select the right general contractor as a partner on the project. When we interview potential generals, we have a project scope already defined from InVision. And in the selection process, price is never the leading factor.
Instead, we interview based on an array of factors including experience, culture, and feel; however, the most important factor is if they they have the qualifications and experience building financial institutions. At the end of the day, you want a general whose going to be a team member when things are going great, and when things are going wrong.
If you’d like to learn more about our project team structure and how we work with general contractors, we covered that topic in a previous blog.
Bid Process Coordination at HTG
As a result of having the general contractor as a member of the team from the first day of design through project completion, there aren’t as many surprises when the project goes out for bid. Those checks and balances mean the client isn’t going to get surprised with bids landing a half million dollars over budget.
And in the event some bids are coming in a little high, the general will know how to shift the plan to lower costs, while HTG will ensure the quality and intention set out during InVision remain intact.
The Lowest Bidder Isn’t Always Better
As I mentioned above, the private projects allow for a different bid coordination process. Perhaps the biggest benefit here is the ability to see not just the numbers coming in, but who the potential subcontractors are. This means once again the client can consider more than just price when making their selection.
This can be especially valuable in smaller communities where reputations carry a lot of weight. For instance, a subcontractor who comes in at the lowest bid might also have a local reputation for finishing work late.
Not to mention, a negotiated bid process allows banks and credit unions to consider subcontractors who bank at their institution.
How HTG Adds Ease to the Process
The bidding process can be confusing, time consuming, and difficult to navigate for bankers. And why wouldn’t it be? Negotiating bids and understanding the intricacies of how every decision impacts a project isn’t supposed to be their responsibility. That’s one of the many places where a partnership with HTG pays off, time and time again.
Our clients rely on us to handle the ins and outs of bid coordination, just like they rely on us throughout every step of their project. We work through any needs or issues, and we handle knowing how all the pieces work together. No project is ever the same, but every project is an opportunity to learn, refine, and polish our approach.
Specific to the financial industry, we have over 2,500 projects under our belts, and we bring that experience to every new project.
