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 AI-augmented takeoff (documented at acglass.ai) 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. Bids more than 20% below or above the average get flagged. 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 $3M/$6M bonding required. 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 AI-augmented takeoff, 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. Bids more than 20% below or above the average get scrutinized. 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.
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