FAQs

What if another client asks you to quote a project you are working on for us?
For professional and ethical reasons we will only accept a Mechanical and Electrical Estimating project off one client and once we accept a commission and an agreement is in place we will work exclusively for that client.

How can I be sure it will be right?
Our combined industry experience of Mechanical and Electrical Estimating exceeds 150 years; Just like your own staff we take reasonable skill and care. We would also carry out our own internal checks to verify our estimate using rules of thumb and experience.

Why should we choose UK Estimating Support Ltd?
Experienced across a wide range of industries; education, retail, leisure, commercial, industrial, telecommunications.
Experienced in multi-disciplined M&E led projects with Construction Managers, Management Contractors, PFI, PPP, End users and Main Contractors.
Contractually aware
We use technology to benefit your Company. Information transfer and cost modelling is possible with our software. Bids are presented as M&E in one report.
You can be sure that you are getting value for money because your fee is determined by the value of the job. Your fee is based on value not on how long it has taken us to prepare and the higher the value of the job the lower the fee.
Through our customer feedback programme, they say they would use us again and they would recommend our service to other Contractors and believe its good value for money.
You can view your estimate information on line.

How much does Mechanical and Electrical Estimating cost?
The fee is based on a reducing % of the net estimate value (after your trade discounts).

What prices do you use?
We use SEC estimating software with a database of over 375,000 items, updated weekly. The prices are direct from the manufacturer. We apply your standard discounts to arrive at a net material cost. For none database items we seek quotations in your Company name. For sub-contractors we obtain quotes from the specified Companies and from those you wish to use.

Won’t the suppliers and Subcontractor be calling us asking permission?
No. We send out with enquiries, to all suppliers and subcontractors, a letter of authority which explicitly instructs them to comply with our directions. This stops your staff being harassed for permission to release quotes.

What do you send out to supplier and Subcontractors?
Your Terms and Conditions, the project specification, drawings and any other pertinent documents e.g. Health and Safety, programme.

What labour rate do you use?
To begin with we use a bench mark rate of £20 p/h to calculate the overall net estimate value. You are then free you apply your own rate with or without our involvement. If you use your own labour rate then we can modify the report.

What about design projects?
No problem. After an initial review of the documents we will determine what if any external design input we need. We will discuss the design needed and what level of document you want for your tender submission before engaging a Consultant. Their fee can be paid direct by you or us.

How do you handle site visits and technical queries?
We agree with you at the outset if you want us to represent you when raising queries or site visits.

What’s your success rate?
We would expect you to win 1 in 3 of the estimates we produce for you. However, whilst we produce an estimate of cost, price is determined by the Market and since the competition dictates price its important to risk asses your chances of winning prior to deciding to bid. Merely being more selective can increase you strike rate by 50%. The real key is to demonstrate that your price represents best value

What do you provide us with?
One DVD with a simple file structure containing the following headings:

Client correspondence:
All correspondence between ourselves and you, supplier enquiries

Dwg & specification:
Drawings and specifications

Quotes:
All quotes as a PDF file

Take off sheets and workbook:
Take off report, take off sheets, all estimate notes

The estimate:
Final estimate value sheet, section summary sheet, model tender later including commercial and technical clarifications

Can you price prepare bill of quantities?
Yes, if you are sent a bill of quantities to price we asses the standard method of measurement, SMM6 or SMM7. We will prepare the bill of quantities using SEC estimating software. The SEC estimating software allows us to set up pages and group items together to create bill items

What form of contracts have you experience of working on?
Framework contracts, partnering including the PPC2000 partnering contract, all the JCT suite; JCT1980;JCT1981;JCT1988, JCT1998 and the new JCT2005.
The JCT publishes standard contracts for minor building works, intermediate form and standard form. The standard form is published without bills of quantities, with bills of quantities and approximate quantities, private and local authority editions.
We have experience on named contract, domestic contracts DOM/1 and DOM/2, IFC1984 Named and domestic sub-contract, Nominated sub contract with and without design portion NSC/T, NSC/A, NSC/N, NSC/W, NSC/W, NSC/C. please.

Have you worked with management contractors?
Yes, MACE, Bovis lend lease, Taylor Woodrow.

Are there any additional costs?
Not if the drawings are provided as PDF and Paper and a site visit is not required.
However we do charge for the following:

Motoring travel is charged at 50p per mile

Hotels are charged at cost (see our Terms and Conditions).

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