I have a little gripe with the trend I have noticed in the past couple of years with bidding documents (and it’s not how poor the documentation is). I have noticed more projects requiring the contractors to purchase the plans and specifications instead of using the deposit system. Contractors already have to absorb in their overhead the cost of free estimates, including the estimator salaries. Now they have to purchase the plans to supply the free estimate!
As this country is pushing to be “greener” this makes no sense to me. With the deposit system the plans were returned so the successful contractors could use them on the project. Now the unsuccessful bidders are tossing those plans in the trash and additional project plans and specifications have to be printed. Where is the logic in this process?
