A fabricator can send the same set of plans to two detailers and get very different prices. One bidder may allow for two phased releases and CNC files. Another may price a single PDF submittal. Give both bidders the same written scope and ask them to list their assumptions alongside their price.
Start with the drawing register
Send the sheets and addenda that define the work. List each document’s number, revision and issue date. Identify which drawings are current and which are background material. If an architectural revision changes an opening while the structural set still shows the old condition, flag the discrepancy for clarification.
A model can help the bidder understand the geometry. State its file format, revision and intended use. Tell the bidder which contract documents govern and who will answer questions about conflicts.
Put the boundaries in writing
Name the buildings, levels, grids or sequences included. List miscellaneous metals, stairs, rails, embeds and delegated design separately where they apply. For each item, say who supplies the design input and who prepares the drawings. Ask bidders to state exclusions explicitly.
For example, “detail the structural framing on grids A–D” leaves a question about a stair at grid D. Adding “stair and rail package by others; include framing supporting the landing” gives both bidders a comparable boundary. This is an illustrative scope, not a project specification.
List what the shop needs back
| Deliverable | What to specify in the RFQ |
|---|---|
| Shop and assembly sheets | Sheet format, title block, mark convention and a reference sheet the shop may share. |
| Erection drawings | Required plans, sections, piece marks and how packages should follow the erection sequence. |
| Material lists | Whether the shop needs preliminary procurement quantities, a release-specific bill of materials or both. |
| Machine files and models | Shop-approved format, units, model version and the person who will check a sample export. |
For industry terminology and the roles involved in reviewing fabrication and erection documents, see Section 4 of the AISC Code of Standard Practice for Steel Buildings and Bridges (2022). Identify the edition and requirements specified for your project in the RFQ.
Ask each bidder to identify which outputs are included in the base quote and which carry an additional charge. A PDF sample can confirm layout; for a machine-data requirement, arrange a separate sample-file check with the shop.
Separate approval dates from shop-release dates
Work backward from the first material order or fabrication slot. Give dates for the first submittal, the expected review window and the first approved release. Identify who receives RFIs, who returns consolidated comments and how the shop learns a drawing has been superseded.
Ask how many review cycles the quote includes and how the detailer handles a changed design after a release. A review comment and a revised design can create different amounts of work. Agree on the distinction while comparing proposals.
Copy this project brief
Project / location:
Latest drawing register and addenda:
Included buildings, grids or sequences:
Excluded items / work by others:
Shop, erection, model and machine-file deliverables:
Shop standards or sample sheet available:
First approval submittal / review window:
First shop release / subsequent phases:
RFI contact and revision process:
Please identify assumptions, exclusions and optional costs.Start with the fields you know. Mark outstanding items as open and ask the supplier to explain how each assumption affects the quote. When the proposals come back, compare the first release date, deliverables, exclusions and change terms on one sheet before comparing the totals.