Estimator; Commercial & Industrial

Estimator (Commercial & Industrial)

Supervisor:
Director of Estimating & Interconnects
Classification:
Full-time, exempt

The Estimator (Commercial & Industrial) is responsible for estimating commercial & industrial (C&I) and retrofit projects, utilizing a strategic and systematic “bid table” approach (drawing / specification / RFP document review, solicitation & negotiation of sub-tier pricing, and quantity take-offs) to produce accurate, comprehensive, competitive, & timely proposals. You must currently reside in San Diego or Riverside Counties.

• Oversee all bidding requirements; prequalification (RFQs / RFPs), short listing, etc.
• Thoroughly review all bidding documents / requirements, understand the risk elements, and address such for evaluation.
• Prepare and submit pre-bid RFIs to identify and clarify questionable scope and requirement items within bidding documents.
• Prepare and maintain bid plans, documents, and reproductions (document control).
• Review project documents for cost effectiveness and suggestions for value alternative opportunities.
• Utilize benchmark data, trends, and historical pricing to generate detailed cost estimates.
• Perform detailed and well annotated quantity take-offs, to build comprehensive estimates within Cal Solar bidding software.
• Communicate with architects, owners, consultants, and all other stakeholders to clarify scopes of work, materials, and schedule requirements; and properly document these clarifications.
• Review contracts and all front-end documents (scope, schedule, price, terms, cash flow / billing schedules, etc.) to ensure bids are compliant and all encompassing.
• Establish and enforce high-standards for pre-contract site investigations by General Superintendent to validate bidding and/or engineering assumptions and potential field-conditions that could affect the effectiveness and timeliness of executing the work.
• Solve input from the Operations Team to identify risks/opportunities and establish a plan for approach/execution of projects, construction schedule durations, General Conditions / General Requirements, & logistical cost items.
• Capture inclusions, clarifications, assumptions, and exclusions that align with contractual requirements of the project.
• Prepare comprehensive bid proposals; bid forms, insurance forms, etc. and any other necessary documents.
• Lead in-depth review of project bid proposals with internal team prior to submission to client.
• Maintain on‑going dialogue with awarding‑body for bid projects that are pending award.
• Organize and archive all bid information for future reference.
• Communicate with and support Operations Team during execution of projects; set up of schedule of values (SOV), vendor/sub‑tier buyout, Exhibit A review / creation, bid history / approach, and change order pricing when appropriate.
• Direct, coordinate, and provide information and documents to vendors and sub‑subcontractors.
• Collaborate with the Preconstruction team to prepare contractual exhibits and bid packages for sub‑subcontract work scopes.
• Participate in Project Contract Kickoff Meetings and External Client Kick-Off Meetings to ensure that the accuracy of estimates and information/knowledge about each project is properly conveyed and understood.
• Work in Design Review Page‑Turn Meetings (pre‑permitting submission) and Pre‑Mobilization Meetings (preconstruction‑to‑construction hand‑off) when requested by Engineering, Preconstruction and/or Operations teams (respectively).
• Participate in post‑mortem meetings to collect lessons learned, and “closing the loop” by preparing and implementing estimating improvements for future projects.

• Actively solicit, evaluate, support, and maintain relationships with material/equipment vendors, and sub‑contractors to ensure Cal Solar is utilizing and/or working with high‑quality, cost‑effective partners.
• Maintain up‑to‑date knowledge of industry trends, new technologies, and regulations affecting project costs.
• Keep current with latest estimating technologies/techniques to continually develop/improve estimating services and processes.
• Maintain working‑knowledge and update cost…