How do I get supplier pricing for an electrical takeoff?
Send your distributor a clean bill of materials early, split out the packages that get quoted separately (lighting, gear, fire alarm), and include the spec sections and approved manufacturers that apply. Then check every quote that comes back against the specs before you carry it, and watch how old your prices are on bid day.
List the commodity material (conduit, wire, boxes, fittings, devices) with sizes and quantities, grouped the way your distributor prices it.
2
Split out the packages
Lighting, switchgear and distribution, fire alarm and other systems are usually quoted as separate packages. Send each one the schedule, the spec section and the drawings it needs.
3
Send it early, with a due date
Distributors need time, especially for gear and lighting. Ask for quotes a few days before bid close, not the morning of.
4
Check each quote against the specs
Catalog numbers and approved manufacturers, quantities, lamps and drivers, controls, what's excluded (freight, start-up, taxes), lead times, how long the price holds, and which addenda the quote covers.
5
Keep prices fresh
Copper and gear prices move. Note the quote date on every line, and re-check anything old before you submit.
Questions estimators ask
Should I use a price file or a quote?
A price file from your distributor is good for commodity material and quick budgets. For packages and anything large or volatile, get a quote for the job.
What do supplier quotes usually leave out?
Freight, start-up and commissioning, spare materials, taxes, and anything the quote's notes call 'by others'. Read the exclusions on every quote before you carry it.
Does Bidprobe help with supplier pricing?
Yes. The takeoff comes with a bill of materials workbook that includes a request-for-quote tab to send your distributor. Upload the quote that comes back, as a spreadsheet or a PDF, or your distributor's price file, and the estimate prices each line with it. A national price book fills in where you have no price, marked as a reference, and before you issue the bid Bidprobe lists anything still unpriced or stale.
From the takeoff to your supplier's prices.
One free bid check on every new account, no card required.