Contract Documents Bid Form And Specifications Bid: Fill & Download for Free

A tender and a bid technically mean the same thing in the procurement context.Procurement departments wish to buy something, so they package up the requirements and conditions into a document typically called an RFT, RFP or RFQ, depending on the nature of the procurement and the response they want.With an RFT, the scope and specification is usually very clear, and written by the Buyer. With an RFP, the Buyer is not clear on how the product will be supplied, so is seeking proposals from suppliers. So the specification is usually supplied by the Supplier. With an RFQ, they are buying a low risk/value item, and generally all they are seeking is a price and a capability statement.Notwithstanding that, all these documents are REQUESTS for tenders. The legal term is “ITT” (Invitation to Treat). In some jurisdictions this documents also called:“ITT” (Invitation To Tender)“IFB” (Invitation for Bids)So the Suppliers submit a tender in response to the request. Their document package is called a “tender”, or, colloquially, a “bid”. This tender or bid comprises the Suppliers’ “Offer”.If the Buyer accepts the Offer, and a price is agreed, then the ensuing suite of documents formalising that arrangement is a legally binding contract.

These distinctions may be more architectural than engineering, which tends to define progress on a percentage basis (eg. 50% drawings, 75%, 90%, etc.).In the American Institute of Architects (AIA) standard contracts for architectural services are divided into 5 phases briefly summarized below:SchematicDesign: (SD)The Architect develops with the Owner an outline program, including a list of sizes, relationships, and systems the Owner may desire. Architect will prepare floor plans, elevations, schedules, and section details for the proposed work in order to fix the scale and relationship of the project components for Owner’s review and approval. From these studies, Architect will arrive at a preliminary construction cost. At this phase, Architect will meet with the Permit & Inspection Department to confirm City acceptance for zoning, use, and permit.Design Development: (DD)Based on approved schematic design documents Architect will further develop the design including civil, landscaping, architectural, mechanical, and electrical components for Client’s review and approval. Architect prepares and submits a conceptual estimate of probable construction cost.Construction Documents: CD)Based on the approved Schematic Design and Design Development documents, Architect prepares for approval by the Owner, plans and specifications setting forth in detail the requirements for construction of the project. A cost estimator will prepare a final estimate if the General Contractor or Construction Manager has not been selected.Bidding & Negotiating: (B&N)Architect prepares an Invitation to Bid and Bid Form for bidders acceptable to Owner, tabulates bids, and aids Owner in selecting a General Contractor or Construction Manager for the project. Architect typically suggests that this phase be done at the end of the Design Development phase so as to ascertain that the project fits within the budget. This also allows for speed in starting the construction process, as well as allows for the selected General Contractor’s input before construction documents are completed.Construction Administration: (CA)During the course of construction, Architect serves as Owner’s representative to review the job to determine the progress and quality of the work, review shop drawings submitted by the Contractor for conformance with design intent, modify the drawings as necessary to aid in the coordination of the various trades, and assist the Contractor in problem solving. The Architect is also responsible for verifying the quantity of work completed and certifying construction draws presented by the Contractor.Note that consulting engineers cannot really start their work until the schematic design is approved by the owner. Also, generally speaking when the word “Architect” is used it includes the work of his consulting engineers.I hope this is useful information for you.

You have to look at the general conditions of the contract between the owner (party that is paying for the work) and general contractor to know whether there is any precedence. From what I have seen in public works contracts, the specifications take precedence over the plans, but these sort of details rarely matter when it comes to disputes about money. The fact is that plans and specifications always have discrepancies because no one has the time to check and revise them perfectly before bid time.Typically what happens is that the owner has a contingency budget because there are always contingencies. A good contractor will notice discrepancies in the plans and specifications and bring these to the attention of the owner in the form of pre-bid RFI (requests for information). A savvy contractor will wait until after the bid in the hopes that he can cash in on these discrepancies, but it is a risk and should be accounted for in the bid regardless. In short, discrepancies create uncertainty which inflates budgets whether the specifications, plans, or other contract documents are the source.