Bidding a job in a new demographic

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paleshadeofGREEN

Member
Location
San Francisco
Occupation
General B1/C10
Hey all. So I'm new to the Bay area with an rmo B1 and C10 and need help bidding a unique and specific job as San Francisco is equally unique and specific.

The job is eliminate 3 Fed PAC panels. Install a 3 Meter stack in new location which will then back feed three individual subs in their respective units. 300 amp service upgrade from 125 with underground work but only a short run of about 3 to 4 m. Possible transformer upgrade with PG&e TBD. Coordinate, obtain, and manage everything to do with compliance, permitting, the city, and PG&E negotiation from inception to final POE.

I have my PE for MEP and structural not that the latter is really going to come into play. I understand my cogs but have never bid a job of this scope in SF before so I'm not quite sure on the numbers. I've done the SF bureaucracy DBI dance enough times to be able to navigate myself through it fairly unscathed so I'm not too concerned there, yet being point on a project like this is a first. I don't want to gut myself but I also don't want to lose the bit and I'm looking to the collective hive mind of EEs, ECs, and GCs with more scars than me for guidance 💪

-D
 
For your SF job replacing three Federal Pacific panels, installing a 3-meter stack, back-feeding three subpanels, and upgrading to a 300-amp service with a 3-4m underground run: Estimate $2,500-$4,000 for materials, $1,500-$3,600 for 20-30 hours labor at $75-$120/hr, $200-$500 for permits, and $10,000-$40,000 if PG&E requires a transformer (confirm with them). Total costs $10,000-$15,000, or $20,000-$25,000 with transformer/trenching. Bid $12,000-$18,000 with 20-30% margin, higher if transformer’s needed. Leverage your DBI experience, verify transformer scope with PG&E’s Express Connections, and cross-check with another EC to avoid underbidding. Focus on quality, not lowballing, for SF clients.
 
kanewilliam said:
For your SF job replacing three Federal Pacific panels, installing a 3-meter stack, back-feeding three subpanels, and upgrading to a 300-amp service with a 3-4m underground run: Estimate $2,500-$4,000 for materials, $1,500-$3,600 for 20-30 hours labor at $75-$120/hr, $200-$500 for permits, and $10,000-$40,000 if PG&E requires a transformer (confirm with them). Total costs $10,000-$15,000, or $20,000-$25,000 with transformer/trenching. Bid $12,000-$18,000 with 20-30% margin, higher if transformer’s needed. Leverage your DBI experience, verify transformer scope with PG&E’s Express Connections, and cross-check with another EC to avoid underbidding. Focus on quality, not lowballing, for SF clients.
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Thanks so much for the detailed replay. It's appreciated. I ended up sending the bid the day before yesterday and broke each aspect down in separate line items. My numbers, for the most part, aligned with yours for Mat/Lab, however the kicker was the project management services at +9k for bringing in my MEP for pge and the DBI/SFPUC/MTA dance (trenching is around cable car lines so all their muck to avoid under the street too). Also advised that any change orders or modifications requiring additional time/resources would be billed additionally at 147/hr

I ended up leaving 2 tbd's based off final project scope at end of planning/DD phase. One being the transformer estimated +/- 20k and the other being the trenching costs. Tput that at a TBD of 4-15 due to associated crap with public works as the location is tourist heavy photo op and will require street/sidewalk closure. It's gonna be a right proper shit show.

Bottom line, I advised the client to plan a 50k budget with a +30% "aww crap" fund because, well, San Francisco and un-known variables. I feel as that should put me in the safe zone and the disclosures/contract clauses cover anything additional will not cause me to eat it. Fingers crossed, really want this one ! Thanks again!!!
 
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