Quick answer: Florida commercial glazing bids follow a standard 7-step process: (1) plans received, (2) takeoff and scope review, (3) quote development, (4) sealed bid submission, (5) bid leveling by GC, (6) qualification interview, (7) award. Standard FL market timeline: 7-15 business days. ACG benchmark: 48 hours on standard commercial plans.
GC or owner sends architectural drawings via email, Procore, BuildingConnected, or BidEngine. Standard package: architectural elevation drawings, glazing schedule, hardware schedule, spec section (CSI Division 08), and any addenda. Quality of plans dramatically affects bid quality — narrative-only bids carry 15-25% contingency.
Glazier reviews drawings and identifies all glazing scope: storefront, curtain wall, window wall, impact-rated openings, all-glass entrances, glass railings, and any decorative glass. Counts linear feet of mullion, square feet of glass, and counts of hardware items. ACG uses custom in-house takeoff software to compress this from 2-3 days to 4-8 hours.
Glazier prices: aluminum framing (per LF), glass (per SF), hardware (per item), sealants and accessories (per SF), shop drawings and engineering (lump sum), NOA/FL Product Approval submittal (lump sum), field installation labor (per SF), and project management. Add overhead and profit. Subtotal becomes the bid number.
Glazier produces a written bid package: cover letter, scope of work, exclusions, qualifications, price, and validity period (typically 30 days). Submitted via email or platform. Most GCs require sealed bid by a specific deadline.
GC compares all bids side-by-side: price, scope inclusions/exclusions, qualifications, references, and bonding capacity. GC asks clarifying questions to align scope across bidders.
Top 2-3 bidders interviewed by GC project manager. Topics: HVHZ submittal experience, similar project references, bonding letter, license verification, crew availability, schedule fit, and any value-engineering options. This stage filters out unqualified low bidders.
GC issues a letter of intent (LOI) or signed subcontract to the winning glazier. Contract typically AIA A401-style subcontract, with performance and payment bonds required where the project calls for them. Award triggers shop drawing kickoff and material ordering.
ACG returns sealed bids on standard commercial plans in 48 hours — not the FL market average of 7-15 business days. We achieve this with custom takeoff software, standardized pricing tables, and a streamlined bid review process. This speed wins us bids regularly.
Standard FL market: 7-15 business days from plans received to sealed bid. ACG benchmark: 48 hours on standard commercial plans. Bid speed correlates with operational discipline downstream.
Aluminum framing, glass, hardware, sealants, shop drawings and engineering, NOA submittal, field installation, and project management. Standard exclusions: permit fees, rough opening prep, perimeter caulk by GC, and lifts/scaffolding.
GC compares price, scope inclusions/exclusions, qualifications, references, and bonding. The cheapest bid usually has missing scope.
Standard FL commercial glazing bids are valid 30 days. Some longer projects accept 60-day validity, but most glaziers price-protect for 30 days to manage material cost exposure.
Three qualified bidders is the sweet spot. Five invites unqualified low bidders who don't have the operational discipline to execute. Pre-qualify by license, bonding, and portfolio before sending plans.
ACG · CGC #1531993 · 48-hour bid turnaround on commercial plans.
Send Us PlansACG installs the full CSI Division 08 (Openings) scope across the state — hurricane-zone and inland. Whether the project needs ESWindows impact-rated curtain wall in Miami-Dade or standard architectural storefront in Orlando, the same team delivers.
After five years of commercial glazing work across Florida, ACG opens its Nashville office in the third quarter of 2026. The same owner-run operating model, the same Division 08 single-source scope, brought to the Tennessee commercial construction market — office, multifamily, retail, hospitality, healthcare.
Nashville early-bid list