Datum Projects’ Post

Properly budgeting your project when starting your practice is a key ingredient to success. Arminco Inc - there are 9 steps to follow: 1) Define the Project - The full Scope 2) Estimate the Direct Cost 3) Find and Add all In-direct Cost 4) Factor in Time Related Cost 5) Bread Down the Entire Budget by Phases 6) Conduct a Cashflow Analysis 7) Monitor & Control the Budget 8) Review Bids & Pricing from Vendors & Contractors 9) Finalize the Budget

It’s all about transparency and making things simple and valuable for our clients. Tendering can be a bit of a headache for brands. The industry norm has become quotes that sometimes contain loopholes and gaps and grey areas. But we have a much more direct approach. Call us old fashioned, but we guarantee our quotes and do our best to avoid variations down the line. Here’s a bit of a deep dive on how we tender – and what it means for our clients: https://lnkd.in/gdC-ekT3

I’m happy to share that I’m starting a position as Managing Director at Tender Find. Find, Price and Win New Tenders on a No Win, No Fee Basis. Our goal is to help main contractors build connections effortlessly, while providing sub-contractors greater access to tender opportunities. By expanding networks on both sides, we simplify the process of finding the right match, making tendering more efficient and accessible for everyone involved. If any sub-contractors are interested in securing new projects, please register your interest to - tenders@tenderfind.co.uk, there will be 0 upfront cost and a flat rate of 2.5% of the contract value upon placement of the order. We will source the project, estimate the site & negotiate on your behalf at no cost. There is no financial risk to the contractor if they are not successful. A win win. www.tenderfind.co.uk Rest assured, it is business as usual at Peters Cost Consultants Ltd.

"Let's just lower the price," - is sentence often heard during the bidding on a construction project. 🚧 In sales, when unfamiliar with a product, lowering the price is the go-to solution. This happens in construction too, but it carries risks. 📉 Being the lowest bidder can be risky. Being the highest has its own risks. The ideal spot is in the middle. 🏗️ Consider the project hierarchy: from the labor force to the developer. Everyone wants efficient and affordable performance. Focusing too much on price can cause issues. Prioritizing performance first, then affordability, is key. 💬 For example, if a subcontractor needs 30-day payment terms to perform well but is offered 45-day terms, they must communicate this. Clear communication about performance needs is often missing. How do you balance cost and performance in your bids? 💼 #construction #bidding #cashflow #pricing #constructionindustry

Unscrupulous businesses are two a penny   You know the ones who:   ➡️ Will refuse payment for no good reason   ➡️ Add extra details to the contract to your detriment   ➡️ Do one of the countless other things you’re currently thinking of   I see this every day while resolving various construction claims. Contractors frequently refusing to pay what's due. Just plain and simple ‘subby bashing.’   A recent instance where a contractor tried to withhold monies from our client for delay damages. Despite the contract being so poorly drafted it didn't have a completion date or even a duration. We adjudicated, we won and the contractor had to pay.   The construction industry is full to the brim of stories like this. It is main contractors working to minuscule margins or a race to the bottom for pricing? Is that what leads to the keen commercial practices and questionable mortality?   I’m always honest with clients or people I work with. If I can’t help a client, or fix their issue, I’ll tell them.    I’m under no illusion that contracting can be challenging at times, staring at slashed tender, that's in the red before the first cabin has landed, and an unattainable procurement target. I've seen it from all perspectives of the construction supply chain now being on the consultancy side I see the bigger picture.   I truly love what I do. From either helping smaller businesses and contractors get what they are owed or assisting developers pay what is due.   Sometimes I feel that what we do shouldn’t be needed. But whilst the race to the bottom persists its an unfortunate reality.

Here are three tips for bidding out a capital improvement project: -Bid out the project to 3 or 4 Vendors Even if you have a preferred contractor, bidding the project out to multiple vendors keeps everyone honest and might help you discover a fantastic new contractor. -Level the Bids Ensure that each bid covers the same scope of work so you can make accurate, apples-to-apples comparisons. -Meet Contractors Together The best approach is to meet all contractors at the same time. This ensures they hear the same scope of work and encourages them to sharpen their pencils when they see who else is competing. #commercialrealestate #propertymanagement #renovations

Want to establish rapport with a General Contractor (GC) but struggling to get noticed? Here's a simple strategy: 🔹 Step 1: Initiate face-to-face contact by visiting their office. Build that crucial initial relationship. 🔹 Step 2: Price your bids competitively, ideally at cost or slightly above. Don't overshoot on the first job to make your offer irresistible. 🔹 Step 3: Follow up diligently on your bids. Set a timeframe for bidding multiple jobs and maintain communication. Weed out non-responsive GCs to keep your momentum. 🔹 By implementing these steps, you'll assert control, avoid desperation, and keep your leverage high in business negotiations. #ConstructionIndustry #BusinessStrategy #Bidding #WinningBids #Takeoff #Estiamtor #ConstructionManagement

🔨 Mastering Bid Approval: 5 Essential Tips for Contractors 🔨 Winning bids requires a strategic approach. Here are five key tips to increase your chances of securing projects: Align Your Bid with Client Objectives: Tailor your bid to match the client's goals and expectations. Understanding their vision and the reasoning behind their initiation of the project ensures your proposal addresses their specific needs, increasing the likelihood of approval. Offer Clear Options and Recommendations: Present multiple solutions if applicable, accompanied by clear recommendations. Providing choices demonstrates flexibility and enhances your proposal's value. Break Down Your Bid Methodically: Transparently detail labor hours and material line charges. Adding material specifications and detailed hourly rates builds an aura of transparency. A well-structured breakdown instills confidence in clients and facilitates informed decision-making. Communicate Scope of Work and Implications: Clearly articulate the proposed scope of work, including any potential impacts on residents or site staff as well as any expected lead times for procurement. Proactive communication fosters understanding and mitigates concerns. Be Responsive to Client Inquiries: Stay accessible and responsive to client questions about your bid. Prompt and thorough responses demonstrate professionalism and build trust throughout the bidding process. By implementing these strategies, contractors can effectively navigate the bid approval process and position themselves for success in securing new projects. Remember, attention to detail, clear communication, and client-centricity are paramount in winning bids in the competitive contracting landscape.

For those who are looking win their own commercial contracts, here are some platforms & methods my clients use to fill their pipeline with contracts: 1. LinkedIn LinkedIn is a goldmine for commercial contracts, you can also build a relationship with them rather than just being another number to the main contractor. Add & direct message contracts directors, other managing directors, etc to see if you can tender for their work. 2. Constructionline Marketplace If you're Constructionline Gold verified you've got a great chance of winning contracts that are listed on the marketplace, showing up as fully verified on the supply chain platform gives the client confidence you have everything you need to get through their pre qualification process. 3. Your local councils website Each local council has a different tendering portal, so whether it's your local council or another council you would like to work for. Sign up & get your tenders in, councils usually offer repeat work so this is one of the best methods in my opinion. 4. GOV.UK Contracts finder - https://lnkd.in/ejUz2Dqz The GOV.UK contracts finder has nationwide contracts listed on there, new contracts are posted on there daily. So definitely keep your eye on this one. 5. Bid Stats - https://lnkd.in/e6srJGpk There's a free version & also a paid version, with the paid version you can get live tender alerts so you never miss an upcoming contract. Those 5 are my favourite, but if you're eager to search for more. Here's a few more that might help: Public Sector tenders - https://lnkd.in/gjpDXHMC Complete Tenders - https://lnkd.in/eFWbTzQg S2GOV - https://lnkd.in/eNQmtHt4 Tenders Electronic Daily - ted.europa.eu UKGC - www.supply2govtenders.com CompeteFor - www.competefor.com Public Contracts Scotland - https://lnkd.in/gMEm7Abk To be considered for many of these projects you need to be pre qualified. This is usually health & safety paperwork, policies & accreditations such as CHAS, Constructionline, SMAS, Safe Contractor. I cannot find contracts for you, but I can make sure you are prepared & meet the requirements to make sure you give the client a great first impression.

Elevate Your Bids and Tenders with a Critical Friend. Ready to take your construction bids and tenders to the next level? Avoid the common pitfalls that could be holding you back from winning those crucial contracts. Our Critical Friend service offers expert guidance and a thorough review of your documents, ensuring they're not just error-free but optimized for success. Why settle for less when you can have an expert pair of eyes validate your work, catching mistakes and enhancing your proposals? This isn't just about fixing errors; it's about strategic improvement and standing out in a crowded market.