At UPE, we’ve noticed something lately: many times when we receive requests for proposals, the manager or owner doesn’t actually know what services they truly need.

Here’s an example.

A manager requested a proposal for a full building structural condition assessment as they knew they needed repairs. We submitted exactly that. Later, we were told our proposal wasn’t competitive because other engineers had submitted proposals for electrical engineering services—which wasn’t even what was originally requested.

After some clarification, we discovered the building really needed a Phase 1 Structural and Electrical inspection, not a structural condition assessment. Once we explained this, we updated our agreement and were eventually awarded the project. In fact, we recommended moving straight to a phase two inspection, since repairs were already necessary. This saved time and money by skipping an unnecessary step (We’ll share more on this in another email).

The takeaway: If you’re not sure exactly what scope of services you need—don’t worry. That’s where UPE comes in. We’ll help you define what’s truly required, and in many cases, we can help you save money by going directly to the right level of assessment.

Ready to get clarity?

Reach out to us today, and let’s make sure you get exactly what you need—nothing more, nothing less.