WHAT DOES A ELECTRICAL ESTIMATOR DO?
Published: Jan 03, 2025 - The Electrical Estimator excels in client relationship building, ensuring accurate understanding and communication of project scopes derived from technical documents and plans. Skillfully navigates project risk assessments and opportunities, enhancing project profitability through strategic cost analysis and scope variations. Develops precise estimates and proposals, collaborates effectively with suppliers and subcontractors, and manages tender submissions to optimize results.
A Review of Professional Skills and Functions for Electrical Estimator
1. Electrical Estimator Duties
- Data Analysis: Analyzing inquiry contents, extracting commercial requirements, and liaising with all participating departments to develop the tender documents
- Interpretation: Interpreting the Scope of Work & where necessary, formulating, placing, and appraising Sub-Contract Enquiries and subsequent responses
- Site Assessment: Attending pre-tender meetings and site visits and assessing all salient features
- Conditions Setup: Establishing working conditions and ensuring completion of the necessary Site Reports
- Quantity Estimation: Performing Quantity Take-Offs of materials and off-site and on-site labor operations from G.A. Drawings, P&IDs, or Isometrics
- Material Sourcing: Developing Bills of Materials to attain material procurement costs
- Cost Evaluation: Evaluating Preambles and applying Norms/Costs to Bills of Quantities or Schedules of Rates, including sub-contract elements
- Cost Analysis: Establishing Total Labour hours and Costs, evaluating Plant, Staff, Supervision and Accommodation
- Pricing Strategy: Summarizing the Tender and in consultation with the Management Team, arrive at a Tender Price
- Tender Preparation: Finalizing estimates and preparing Tender Submission, including all Qualifications, Considerations, and Supporting Documentation
- Client Liaison: Liaising with the Client and all parties concerned during the Tender period
- Contract Review: Carrying out a review of any resultant Contract Document, attending Post Tender Meetings, arranging/attending Kick Off meetings internally or with Clients as necessary and dealing with post contract queries
2. Electrical Estimator Details
- Client Relations: Engaging and building relationships with clients
- Scope Analysis: Reviewing documents, drawings, and plans to determine the scope of work
- Risk Identification: Identifying project risks and opportunities
- Project Review: Conducting comprehensive project reviews upon completion and independently pricing tenders
- Proposal Preparation: Preparing preliminary proposal and attending initial review meeting after tender allocation
- Supplier Coordination: Maintaining contact with suppliers and sub-contractors to obtain pricing and products for tender submission as well as to keep up to date with new products
- Proposal Customization: Preparing pre-qualification proposals for prospective and existing clients by amending standard corporate information to suit client requirements
- Estimate Development: Developing estimates and budgets for all works associated with UGL core business activities
- Opportunity Management: Identifying and managing commercial opportunities as they arise to maximize project yield by leveraging cost estimate content against instructed variations to scope
- Tender Analysis: Analyzing tender specifications and drawings to determine requirements and quantities
- Cost Negotiation: Determining the measurement, and price, negotiating and agreeing on budgets and costs for variations to project scope
- Document Preparation: Preparing tender and contract documents for submission of tender bids
- Feasibility Analysis: Assisting in establishing a client’s requirements and undertaking feasibility studies
- Tender Follow-Up: Submitting and following up on tender queries and clarifications
- Site Valuation: Visiting the site to measure and value works completed
3. Electrical Estimator Responsibilities
- Cost Estimation: Producing accurate estimates of material and labor costs for the electrical element of the project
- Documentation Preparation: Preparing and sending out accurate electrical estimates and tender documentation
- Quote Analysis: Analyzing all quotes received for electrical material and labor costs and efficiently utilizing negotiation skills to achieve the best value
- Technical Evaluation: Evaluating technical requirements and estimating costs to determine prices and margins of all electrical equipment
- Quotation Creation: Creating estimates/quotations to potential customers - ensuring both the customer and business needs are met, and the forecast is in line with requirements
- Relationship Building: Working closely with Subcontractors, Contract Engineers, and Area Development Managers during the estimating/tender process - building stable working relationships
- Software Utilization: Utilizing estimating software such as Accubid with online bid portals for final submissions
- Client Liaison: Evaluating bid opportunities and liaising with potential clients, working within project deadlines to produce accurate electrical estimates
- Plan Review: Reviewing and understanding all project plans, requirements, and specifications
- Risk Management: Reviewing quotes and estimates with Project Team and preparing recommendations for the resolution of any project risks
- Market Analysis: Identifying and reporting escalation factors in the marketplace for specific materials and labor rates
- Estimate Verification: Substantiating all aspects of final estimates
4. Electrical Estimator Accountabilities
- Project Estimation: Estimates Electrical Construction Projects
- Document Review: Reviews bidding, and construction documents for upcoming projects
- Cost Calculation: Prepares cost estimates, proposals, bids
- Site Assessment: Visits job sites to determine actual conditions
- RFI Management: Prepares RFI’s and bid clarifications and prepares detailed cost estimates
- Proposal Submission: Prepares and submits proposals or bid packages
- Bid Follow-Up: Makes follow-up calls to check the status of bids
- Negotiation Participation: Participates in bid revisions, ‘BAFO’ exercises, contract negotiations
- Project Handoff: Attends kickoff meeting to transfer project information to Project Manager, Superintendent, Foreman
- Information Provision: Provides backup information as requested by Project Manager, Foreman
- Change Management: Assists Project Manager in preparing contract modifications, change orders
- Relationship Development: Develops and supports customer relationships
- Client Outreach: Identifies and contacts potential clients
- Relationship Maintenance: Builds and maintains positive business relationships
5. Electrical Estimator Functions
- Template Development: Develop and maintain estimating templates, tools, and software
- Procedure Implementation: Create and implement estimating procedures
- Bid Management: Develop and maintain an active bid list
- Estimate Coordination: Coordinate and review estimates to ensure accuracy and completeness
- Technical Support: Provide technical support, training, and/or prepare estimates
- Study Preparation: Assist in the preparation of studies, materials and methods, recommendations, and relative cost estimates as required
- Design Collaboration: Collaborate with the Design Team for best value customer solutions
- Plan Interpretation: Interpret electrical plans and specifications
- Customer Engagement: Meet with customers to develop project requirements
- Cost Optimization: Identify possible cost saving opportunities and/or risk items
- Relationship Building: Build and maintain good working relationships with customers, contractors, vendors and sales team members