I assume that this bid is the big one you asked for help previously on in another thread.
To be honest that proposal should have already been delivered by now, but I understand that you had to wait for the client to send you further details regarding the floor maintenance procedures.
Bid or estimating software only works if you know exactly what your doing, and are prepared to make substantial modifications to the programme. No programme is able to cover all the variables, due in large part to both the contractors and prospective clients lack of expertise. Ask 100 cleaning contractors to cost the same building, and you will find that as well as a large costing difference, there will be massive differences in the actual specification as well. There are of course a vast number of other things to consider as well. In many cases, the prices quoted will of course be roughly the same, however, specification, overheads etc will be once again different.
If the client has indeed sent you the information that you have requested, you must have some how made an impression, and must have at least a small chance of landing this contract.
Your hang up on standard times or average times will do you no good here!
You state that the building in question has a total of 73 toilets, you state earlier on in the thread that you allow 1 minute to clean a toilet, I am assuming that you are basing this time on you domestic work, or very low level office use, this time surely cannot include the actual stall. The time to complete each unit will be far closer to 3 minitues each, however depending on fit, finish, density, location and footfall could again be adjusted down closer to 2 minutes per unit.
Other items/areas etc will work out the same as above.
Obviously the above sentence means that any standard time for different items/tasks/area's could be adjusted in the same way, and does not mean that each iten/task/area will take 2 minutes!
Different types of buildings of course, have different standard times for the same tasks/items/areas etc. You have failed to provide any details on this point!
The other thing to remember of course, is that in commercial buildings staff and visitors give very little thought to any mess that they may make, as they do not have to clean up after themselves, unlike when they are at home!
Forgive the capitals, but below is a very high risk stratergy that you may wish to consider, again I have to assume that the building is at present being cleaned by another contractor or perhaps by in-house staff, if not all bets are off!
DURING YOUR SITE SURVEY, I ASSUME THAT YOU DISCUSSED THE HOURS THAT YOU WILL SUPPLY SERVICE FOR. AGAIN I ASSUME THAT IF IT IS PRESENTLY CLEANED BY ANOTHER CONTRACTOR OR IN-HOUSE, YOU FOUND OUT HOW MANY STAFF YOU MAY INHERIT UNDER TUPE.
THIS INFORMATION WILL ALLOW YOU TO ASCERTAIN HOW MANY SERVICE HOURS THE BUILDING RECIEVES AT THE MOMENT.
AGAIN I ASSUME THAT YOU ASKED THE REASONS FOR THEM WANTING TO CHANGE CONTRACTORS OR MOVE AWAY FROM IN-HOUSE CLEANING, AND TOOK DETAILED NOTES OF WHAT WAS SAID AT THE TIME!
DEPENDING ON THE ANSWERS TO THE ABOVE, YOU COULD VERY WELL BE IN A POSTION TO SUBMIT A PRICE, THAT WILL NOT BE ALL THAT FAR OUT.
IF THE CLIENT IS VERY UNHAPPY WITH THE STANDARDS BEING ACHEIVED, SUSPECT THE FOLLOWING: POOR MANAGEMENT, POOR SUPERVISION, INADAQUATE SPECIFICATION, INADAQUATE HOURS ETC. AND ADJUST YOUR HOURS ACCORDINGLY!
BEWARE IF THEY ARE LOOKING TO CUT COSTS!CONCENTRATE ON FINDING THE ACTUAL LABOUR COST, INCLUDING AN INCREASE IN YOUR PUBLIC/EMPLOYEE LIABILITY INSURANCE, HOLIDAYS, SICKNESS, PAYROLL, TRAINING ETC.
NEXT ADD IN UNIFORMS, PPE (personal protective equipment), CHEMICALS ETC.
NEXT COMES EQUIPMENT AND MAINTENANCE COSTS.
THEN COMES OVERHEADS AND OTHER FIXED COSTS.
THEN YOUR VARIABLE COSTS.
THEN THE PROFIT, PLEASE REMEMBER, BE REALISTIC HERE, THIS ONE CONTRACT IS NOT GOING TO MAKE YOU RICH, YOU MUST IN MY OPINION EXPECT A PROFIT OF BETWEEN 4%/10%. THIS WILL ADD UP YEAR ON YEAR WITH VERY LITTLE WORK ON YOUR PART PROVIDING YOU RUN A TIGHT SHIP.
If you are able to provide the following infomation, I may well be able to help further.
Accurate size of building
Staff numbers
Visitor numbers (approx)
Building type (modern office/period office/warehouse etc)
Opening hours/days
Approx age of building
Type of business (call centre/insurance office etc)
Layout of building ( open plan/individual offices/security ie offices locked or left unlocked)
Time of cleaning service and number of days
Accurate size of areas (carpets, vinyl, altro, tile, laminate etc)
Accurate size of kitchens
Accurate size of toilets
Accurate size of canteens
Details of your cleaning specification in full
Details of equipment that you plan to use including any floor powered machinery
If you can supply the above information, you could then compare my results, with the method outlined above, and make I feel a pretty good guess on this particulat site, however the information must be accurate, if you have to guess, stick with the high risk method outlined above, as the figures supplied by myself would be of no use at all.
I SHOULD POINT OUT THAT ANY FIGURES I SEND YOU WILL ALLOW YOU TO WORK OUT LABOUR HOURS ONLY, I WILL NOT COST THE CONTRACT FOR YOU!
YOU SHOULD ALSO NOTE THAT NO PROVISOIN HAS BEEN MADE FOR CONSUMABLES IE. BIN BAGS, TOILET ROLLS, SOAPS, SANI-BINS, BLACK SACKS ETC, WHICH SHOULD BE ADDED AND CHARGED FOR SEPERATELY!
Regards,
Rob