In economic recession, the building market is even more competitive.
Lower prices with hard bids and more bids to choose from is the norm. and owners still seek more ways to save money and to accelerate project schedules . So how can contractors distinguish themselves.
BIM is exactly the tool to provide the Owners the savings and to gives the General C ontractor a competitive advantage t. Many contractors claim that they do “BIM;” but most contractors,, only clain it as a marketing tool or for 3D coordination.
Generatw cost savings and providie the Owner the confidence that they will get delivery in budget on time.
The RFP stage is when you win and lsoe proejcts and is htest time to demonstrate th benefit sof BIM
The typical RFP process is broken into these categories:
• Interview: 5% – 25% of total
• Plan, Pricing and Schedule: 25% – 40% of tota
l • Qualifications: 40% – 70% of total
Clients are very interested to kno how the 5D virtual construction workflow help in completing a project successfully. Use the model as a presentation tool to “wow” the client but that’s not enough anymore. Demonstrate the integrated workflow during the interview and transparently illustrate the 5D BIM approach to the project . “Talk to the model” and communicate to the client the schedule and opportunities for saving money and time.
The lowest reasonable price by a qualified GC is a strong factor but Owners are wise to contractors who low-bid and live off change orders to recover. With conceptual estimates, GCs hone in on a true cost based on quantities, locations, and past subcontractor efficiency rates. This focus on quantities, locations, production rates) enables meaningful subcontractor negotiations. The Subcontractors are more confie=dent and accurate when bidding off the same model as GC . so there is lowe rneed for risk contingency and tprices are transparent . This porcess is enahced when the subcontractors uses the virtual cosntruction model with the GC to resolve constructability issues before going to site .
With more efficient schedules and better logistics, there’s no need for stops and starts and last minute rush towards completion.You are able to frequnetly track the target cost versus actual cost to manage budget overruns and resolution.
The fastest, reliable schedule is often less important a factor in a bid but in many cases, it is the most critical factor. GCs often have difficulty explaining their schedules to a n owner when they can’t express it in an easy-to-understand graphical presentation. There are many benefits to shwoing a 4D schedule in a bid. The combination of flowline theory and production control gives more accurate planning, GCs can help their Subs remove the typical stops and starts that simply waste labor.
Owners know that a proven team will consistenlty deliver the best results. They look specifically for the teams with which they want to work – a team that communicates well and is trustworthy. A poorly-structured or overly-complicated presentation undemrines that trust. Owners need to hear a crdible proposal and plan. Use a 5D BIM model to drive your presentation, so the team members are able to clearly illustrate the key points in language that a layperson will understand.
Even more compelling is the ability to show the Owner exactly what is meant , “a picture is worth a thousand words.” and lot more in won projects. This is one of the first benefits of BIM.” Techniques -. This is so much easier to express with a 5D model, especially when the Owner is a layperson. Too often, construction companies try to communicate the building methodology with non‐integrated, non-visual techniques, which only muddies the water. Your firm’s integrated construction methodology can be easily expressed with transparency through the 5D model. Owners appreciate a well-defined process for planning and managing the job, especially when the plan includes objective measurements and reporting.
BIM is not a magic bullet. BIM-capable does not just mean walk‐through animations – it is an integrated construction environment rich with precise quantities, mean and methods, flowline scheduling, and powerful visualizations that supports lean construction methodologies.
If you’re committed to adding BIM to your portfolio, we’re ready to help.
