Government work takes some special considerations when bidding the project. The drawings may show a “typical” office building but the productivity of the field workers can be significantly impacted depending on factors that are not shown on the plans or even in the specifications.
It is important to read the specifications and understand what it will take for your employees to actually start being productive. Some questions need to be considered when developing your estimate. Do employees need background checks or even security clearance to be at the site? Will the entire project or a portion of it require an escort? Will there be restrictions on tools or will tools have to be check in/out everyday (such as jails)? Is there a class prior to being allowed access for the employees such as for safety or security? Is a portion of the building labeled as classified which can alter the construction method used?
Is there a security checkpoint to enter the property and how long will it take them after the checkpoint to reach the construction site such as military bases? A site visit needs to be done if the estimator is unfamiliar with the location of the project. Even if it’s a new building and there is only an empty field, every contractor including the subs should take a site visit to see what it will take for the construction crew to reach the project site.
Especially with the current bidding environment it is even more important to know what the true labor cost will be on a project. The questions above will aid in determining what it will take to do the job.
