Masonry Magazine June 2001 Page. 26
Hackney addresses the crowd. First, he'll announce the name of the bidder and then note whether their bid package includes the usual requirements, such as a bid bond, acknowledgment of addenda, signatures, affidavits, and more. Next, he'll announce the proposer's base bid number, followed by the alternate bids (of which there are 17). Your vision is beginning to clear up now, so you survey your surroundings. You look out the window and see Brent Jansen of Jansen Builders (whom you've dealt with in the past) leaning up against a tree out front - his back to the proceedings. He's on his cell phone back to the office and still thinks he's got two minutes left before the bid deadline. He's speaking frantically and waving his arms. He drove 82 miles per hour through six residential neighborhoods to make it here on time. Other builders in the room are pointing at him and laughing. "He's not going to be happy," you think.
You turn your attention back to the room. The membership is a virtual "who's who" of the local building community. Everyone is here; many of them your customers. You, of course, are here to see what general ends up with the work. There's a good-size job in it for you if it's one of your guys... or you may even be able to pick up a new client if it isn't. As for you, you've already done your bid work. Yesterday, you faxed your quote around to every bidding general you knew about (at least the names you could get from the Dodge Report). You talked to a couple generals later that day and found out your number was
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pretty solid... so you think you stand a fairly good chance to walk away with some work.
Hackney reads the first proposal... then the second then the third. He speaks slowly and deliberately, and seems inordinately pleased with the sound of his own voice. His plodding pace slows the proceeding to a crawl as the surrounding air grows thick and stale. The room filled with hot bodies only adds to the swelter and the unmistakable aroma of locker room begins to dominate your senses. You write down the bid results as they're read, but beads of perspiration drip from your forehead and onto your pad rendering many of the numbers muddy and unreadable. Hackney drones on for what seems an eternity and your left leg is now asleep.
Still, you manage to take an interest in the proceeding. "Hmmm, these base bids seem kinda' high," you think. "I thought the Dodge Report said this was a $200,000 project?" You continue recording the base bids: "$348,000," "$356,000," "$337,500," "$340,500"
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The architect, Siah Iwantmormoni (pronounced I-want-more-money) is seated at the head table next to Hackney. He's beginning to squirm a little now, for it was he who gave the owner's the original $200,000 budget for the job (which coincidentally, happened to be the maximum amount the owners had allowed for the project at the time). The architect's budget number was just low enough (imagine the luck!) to allow the city board to award the architectural package to Siah's firm. He was happy to be awarded the work, but for now, he's hoping for a miracle or a mistake.
But help doesn't come. Hackney continues on, $365,000, $390,000, $402,000..." and you continue to write down the results. You notice as each bid is read, Siah sinks lower and lower in his chair. The other members at the table (which include the public work's director, mayor, councilman, and a couple of city engineers) begin to cast glances in Siah's direction. Siah - busily engaged in calculating his fee for re-drawing the plans doesn't acknowledge them. When he finishes his estimate ("... of course, this is only a budget number... "), he sit's upright in his chair - his spirits once again buoyed by the number at the bottom of the paper. He checks his watch and adjusts the small, electric fan blowing on his face. "This is win-win" he tells himself suppressing a smile.
The pile of yellow envelopes grows smaller. Only two left. "$388,000", Hackney snarls, no longer even attempting to disguise the growing mutiny in his voice. He throws the proposal on the pile, glares over at the architect ... and 26 MASONRY JUNE, 2001