AMERICANCOMMERCIAL GLASS
AMERICANThe quality of a storefront bid is directly proportional to the completeness of the documents provided. A bid package missing structural drawings, Division 08 spec, addendum log, or project address forces the glazing contractor to make assumptions - and assumptions produce either over-priced, risk-padded numbers or under-priced numbers that generate change orders after award. This checklist covers every document ACG expects to receive with a commercial storefront bid invitation, and explains why each item matters to bid accuracy. Statewide code path and office map: storefront installers in Florida. Sourced operable-wall specs: Euro-Wall Vista page.
The following items should be included in every commercial storefront bid package sent to ACG. Items marked as Florida-critical are particularly important for HVHZ and WBDR projects.
Floor plans, exterior elevations, wall sections, window/door schedules, glazing details. Plans must show all glazing locations with dimensions. Elevations must show system types, frame sizes, and glass make-up callouts. Sections must show the head, jamb, sill, and mullion details for each system specified.
Structural drawings must include the design pressure (DP) schedule or wind load criteria for glazed openings. Without the structural engineer's DP values, the glazing contractor cannot verify that the specified system meets code requirements. On HVHZ and WBDR projects, DP is non-negotiable for accurate bidding.
The complete Division 08 spec sections for glazing (08 80 00), storefront (08 44 00), entrances (08 41 00), and related sections. The spec defines performance criteria, acceptable manufacturers, glass make-up requirements, finish, hardware, submittal requirements, testing, and warranty.
Where applicable: masonry specifications (Division 04) define the substrate the glazing system will anchor to. CMU cell grout requirements, mortar specifications, and block strength affect the feasibility of the specified anchor design. On projects with significant CMU scope adjacent to glazing, Division 04 specs are relevant.
The project master schedule or at minimum the anticipated rough opening ready date, glazing start date, and required substantial completion date. This allows the glazing contractor to confirm whether the schedule is achievable given current manufacturing lead times, and to flag any schedule risk at bid time rather than after award.
If the design team has specified particular NOA systems, include the NOA list. If the specification is performance-based, include the performance criteria (DP rating required, HVHZ or WBDR compliance statement, acceptable system families). ACG will select from its approved manufacturer partners the system that meets the criteria.
All addenda issued since original bid document release, including the addendum log tracking all issued documents. Each addendum can modify scope, systems, schedule, or bid conditions. Bidding without the current addendum log risks pricing superseded scope.
The log of requests for information submitted and answered prior to bid. Design team responses to RFIs are formal design clarifications; bidders should have access to the same information. An outstanding unanswered RFI about a glazing detail should be noted in the bid proposal as a scope clarification item.
The physical project address and the permit-issuing jurisdiction (county, city, and building department). This determines HVHZ vs WBDR vs standard requirements and the applicable building department for plan review. An address in Miami-Dade triggers HVHZ requirements; the same building type one mile away in Palm Beach County does not.
The GC superintendent and project manager contacts for the glazing subcontract package. Owner name for the project record (some owner insurance, bonding, and compliance programs require subcontractor documentation). Contact information for the GC estimating team for bid clarification questions.
Before issuing a bid package, verify that the drawing set includes:
The most common drawing gaps ACG encounters in bid packages:
A complete Division 08 specification is critical for a competitive bid. The spec determines what system can be used, what glass is required, what hardware is required, and what testing is required. Without the spec, the glazing contractor must make all of these decisions independently - creating wide variance between bidders and scope disputes after award.
Schedule is a bid accuracy item, not just a project management item. A glazing subcontractor who sees a 6-month installation window can price standard lead time manufacturing. Without the schedule, the subcontractor must assume, and the assumption may not match the GC's expectation.
At minimum, include the following schedule information in the bid package:
On HVHZ projects, the specification may call for a specific NOA-certified system by name, or it may specify performance criteria (DP rating, impact compliance, aesthetic requirements) and allow the contractor to select a compliant system. Both approaches are workable, but each requires different information in the bid package.
Both documents represent formal design information issued since the original documents were released. Bidding without them means bidding on incomplete or superseded information.
Include the current RFI log with written design team responses. If any RFIs about glazing scope are pending (unanswered), note them in the bid invitation so bidders can include appropriate scope assumptions or exclusions. Unresolved glazing RFIs are a common source of post-award change orders.
Include the complete addendum log with all issued addenda attached. If addenda have changed window schedules, opening dimensions, system specifications, or hardware, those changes must be reflected in the bid package documents sent to subcontractors.
| Information Item | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| Project street address | Determines HVHZ/WBDR/standard jurisdiction; affects system selection and cost |
| Building department jurisdiction | Determines plan review body and permit requirements |
| Permit number (if applicable) | For projects already permitted; confirms permit conditions |
| Owner name and entity | For bonding documentation and owner-direct warranty requirements |
| GC estimating contact | For bid clarification questions during the bidding period |
| GC project manager (if known) | For post-award coordination and submittal routing |
| Bid due date and format | Date, time, and submission method (email, bid platform, sealed bid) |
When a bid package is incomplete, ACG will note the missing items in the bid proposal. Missing items produce one of three outcomes:
A bid with stated assumptions and exclusions is not a complete bid - it is an indication of scope that will require resolution before subcontract. Providing complete documents at bid time is the most efficient path to an accurate, executeable subcontract.
Architectural drawings (plans, elevations, details, window schedule), structural drawings with DP schedule, Division 08 specification, project schedule, addendum log, RFI log, project address, and owner/GC contact information. For HVHZ projects: NOA list or performance criteria with DP requirements.
Florida storefront must meet the design pressure calculated from the structural drawings per ASCE 7. Without the DP schedule, the glazing contractor must assume - and an incorrect assumption produces either a non-compliant system or a post-award change order when the correct DP is discovered.
Performance criteria (DP, air/water infiltration limits), acceptable systems, glass make-up requirements, finish type, hardware schedule, submittal requirements, testing (ASTM E1105), mockup requirements, and warranty terms.
The addendum log lists all design modifications issued after the original bid documents. Changes to window schedules, systems, or specifications in addenda that are not provided to bidders produce scope discrepancies. Always include the current addendum log with bid packages.
ACG notes missing items and states assumptions in the bid proposal. Fundamental missing items (no drawings, no address) may result in a no-bid with a request for the missing information. Complete documents produce more accurate, lower-risk bids.
5 business days for standard projects. 10 business days for large or complex HVHZ projects. Rushed bids on complex commercial packages require more assumptions and produce higher-risk numbers.
The RFI log tracks design clarification questions and written responses. Including it with the bid package ensures all bidders have the same interpretation of ambiguous drawing conditions. Unresolved glazing RFIs should be flagged in the bid invitation.
Both work. Named basis-of-design with approved equals is common. Open performance specifications with HVHZ NOA compliance requirements allow ACG to select the most appropriate system from its approved manufacturer partners. For HVHZ projects, performance-based NOA compliance specifications are more flexible as NOA landscapes change over time.