2023 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Successful Construction Companies have mastered the bidding process earning jobs that keep their employees working while maintaining a reasonable profit. Like many skills, it takes a considerable amount of time and practice to become adept at compiling an effective bid. Assembling costs is just one element of the bidding process that in and of itself does not always reflect the many nuances associated with submitting a completed bid on time that meets all the requirements. The many types of construction project delivery methods and agreements only complicate an already complex system leaving many construction educators at a loss as to how to reproduce this competitive environment in a classroom setting. It speaks volumes, the large number of textbooks available to support quantity take-off procedures while costing principles and the bidding process are limited to data pools or a few high-level chapters of the text. It can be overwhelming trying to demonstrate every possible scenario that students may experience in the field, but that could be said of many topics in a construction program’s curriculum, preparing students to head into one of many diverse areas within the construction industry. To prepare students to enter the workforce a simulated experience has been adopted as a culminating project in a cost estimating course. Throughout the course, individual elements are built upon to mirror expectations and prepare students for a 5-week simulation that includes the invitation to bid to the final bid submittal. A traditional design-bid-build project with a lump sum agreement was selected to provide some uniformity to the project. During the simulation, student teams are required to complete the bid process composed of the following required elements:
• Bonding requirements
• Prepare quantity takeoffs and cost estimates
• Review subcontractor/vendor quotes utilizing bid leveling
• Consider DBE requirements
• Communicate with the Owner/Architect using RFI’s
• Addenda
• Schedule of Values
Not all elements are provided in the bid package at once. Subcontractor quotes and addenda are released throughout the simulated experience. The purpose of this report is to document the implementation and delivery of the simulated experience along with assessment data and impact on outcomes. Direct assessment data includes deliverables for the project. Students also complete a course survey specific to the final project as an indirect form of assessment. In addition to the immediate course assessment, direct and indirect assessment data is also obtained when students complete their capstone project in their senior year. The outcomes include students having higher levels of achievement, a stronger understanding of course material, increased student-to-student interactions, and a stronger understanding of the bidding process.