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Once you have determined a job is a good fit for your company and decide to submit a bid, learn everything you can about the scope of the work to be completed by reviewing the complete set of drawings and specifications. Make sure to at least look over the other trade drawings to make sure that there aren’t details missing from the electrical drawings. As computer-aided design has become the standard method to draw plans, a little mistake on the part of a draftsman can omit important details from the electrical plans that may impact your final price.

Plans (Working Drawings)
Make sure to obtain a complete set of drawings including:

• Site Plan: Typically identified by the letter "C" (Civil) preceding the page numbers, these drawings show the civil engineering portion of the project and indicate how the building is situated on the real property and any existing or future site improvements such as parking lots, light poles, retention areas, and underground utilities, like gas, water, sewer, and storm drains. This is also where the electrical utility connection is shown and should be used to determine any dimensions for estimating site work.
• Architectural Plan: Typically identified by the letter "A" (Architectural) preceding the page numbers, the architectural drawings will include information such as building and structural materials, wall cross-sections and dimensions, wall and floor finishes, and building elevations. These plans are helpful to identify what type of additional special labor is required due to special construction of finishes to install your equipment and fixtures.
• Floorplans: Typically identified by the letter 'M" Mechanical ("M"), Plumbing ("P"), and Electrical ("E") M-1, P-1, and E-1 etc. Though these plans are trade specific, the plumbing and mechanical plans may contain information that may require additional electrical considerations not apparent on the electrical floorplan and the electrical plans may have multiple pages containing lighting layouts, power layouts and circuit diagrams.
  

Verify that you have a complete set of legible drawings in a digital format where possible before you begin the estimate. If there is any ambiguity or uncertainty on what is shown on the drawings, submit a Request For Information (RFI) to the person in charge of the project. Make sure you always communicate everything in writing when it comes to drawings. A verbal conversation can be forgotten or misunderstood and can lead to big problems later on.

Specifications
Some jobs will have written specifications that are additional requirements governing the material to be used and the work to be performed on the project. Specifications are designed to simplify the task of interpreting the drawings and to make sure all bidders are providing the same product for the bid price. Product brand, conductor, and wiring method types are commonly found in the specifications. Items such as earthwork may be covered in parts of the specifications that seem unrelated to your scope of work, so be sure to review all sections of items that could impact your price. Specifications are a part of the “contract bidding documents” and must be considered in your bids. Construction project specifications are typically organized by divisions defined by The Construction Specification Institute (CSI).

The current system for construction specifications has 48 divisions. There are five divisions that are specific to the electrical trade:

Author’s Comment: Poor drawings and specifications often result in confusion and an increase in the time it takes to complete the estimate and the job. Make sure your contract is clear as to what revision of the plans and specifications your price reflects and any RFI responses that were considered as part of the price.

Visit the Jobsite
Whenever it's possible, visit the jobsite before you bid the job. Document jobsite conditions or special considerations using your phone, tablet, or a digital camera so you don’t forget important details and can answer your own questions as you complete the estimate. This is especially important when doing remodel work as the pictures will remind you of details you may have forgotten. Finally, be sure take notes of anything important you discover during your site visit. Items such as existing colors or brands of devices can have a significant impact on your final price.