Estimating and Tendering

                                                                               
                                                                                                                                                                                         Quantity Surveyors can provide full Estimating and Tendering solutions to all clients, including Main Contractors, Sub-Contractors and Private Clients. Our coverage includes a wide variety of areas including residential, commercial, industrial, sports & recreation facilities, retail facilities and hotels etc..

The Estimating & Tendering services which we provide our clients with includes;

Estimating & Tendering for Main Contractors & Sub-Contractors

1. The preparation and submission of competitive tenders

2. Negotiating tenders / contracts with the client's Quantity Surveyor for agreement & awarding of contracts

Estimating & Tendering for Private Clients

1. Pre tender price estimating

2. Advice on tendering procedures, contractual arrangements and select tenderers

3. Preparation of tender / negotiation documentation – (i.e. bills of quantities, schedules of rates etc...

4. Tender analysis / negotiations / selection

5. Tender reports and recommendations

One of the first questions asked by any client who wants a building or structure erected is 'How much will it cost?'. If he is wise, the next question will be 'How accurate is this figure?' The purpose of a pre-tender estimate is mainly to provide an indication of the probable costs of construction. This will be an important factor to consider in the client's overall strategy of the decision to build. It should be accepted, however that early price estimates are any approximation and will therefore include some amount of uncertainty.

The two words 'estimating' and 'tendering' are often used in the construction industry to mean the same thing; however a distinction should be made since the Estimate is the preliminary assessment of the net cost of construction work whereas the Tender is the final price or 'offer' which is submitted to the client by the contractor and is the sum of money for which he is prepared to execute and complete the works and will include not only the 'estimate' but also a margin for overheads and profit.

The purpose of producing a pre-tender estimate for our clients can be classified into the following categories.

1. Budgeting - this decides whether the project should proceed as envisaged

2. Controlling - this uses the estimate as a control mechanism throughout the design process

3. Comparing - this uses the estimate as a basis for the evaluation of different design solutions

The degree of accuracy in the pre-tender estimate will very much depend on the type of information provided to the quantity surveyor, the quality of pricing information and the judgement that is used. A Quantity Surveyors estimating accuracy is generally in the region of +/- 13% when attempting to forecast the contract sum.

There are several kinds of estimating techniques and these can be grouped into two main categories;

1. Approximate Estimate

An approximate estimate is an approximate or rough estimate prepared to obtain an approximate cost in a short time. For certain purposes the use of such methods is justified.

2. Detailed Estimate

A detailed estimate of the cost of a project is prepared by determining the quantities and costs of every item that a contractor is required to provide and do for the satisfactory completion of the works. It is the best and most reliable form of estimate.

The primary objective of tendering for construction projects is to select the most competitive main contractor to undertake the construction phase of the project. There are essentially two ways of selecting a main contractor: through competition or by negotiation, and our practice has the capacity and the ability to undertake both these methods for awarding construction contracts. Therefore it will need to be decided whether the contractor selection is to be through competition or negotiation. Acting as the client's Quantity Surveyor we can provide professional advice and assist our clients in obtaining the most suitable method of contractor selection and awarding construction contracts.