How To Achieve the Optimal Invitation to Tender for Facade Protection

Tenders are as ubiquitous a part of larger construction projects as the proverbial “amen” in church. But one area that’s a consistent weak spot - and often ends up as a hastily scribbled down single sentence - is the description of facade security.

Details and specifications for the planned safety system are almost completely missing, which can end up causing unnecessarily high costs down the line. Architects and planners who don’t deal with the right fall protection in advance run the risk of planning outmoded solutions that can’t be implemented later, are much more expensive, or are aesthetically unattractive.

If a coherent security concept is missing, the need for spending time and effort on revisions increases, as does the risk of sham security.

We’ve summarized the following 3 professional tips and useful background information so that you can quickly and easily find the optimal tender for your facade protection.

The Tendering Process for Building Projects 

The invitation to tender (ITT) process, especially from public clients and larger construction projects, follows a structured sequence of several phases:

1. Determination of the Contract: in this phase the service description is drawn up
    
2. Invitation to Tender Phase: Here’s where the ITT is submitted
    
3. Offer Phase: here’s where the opening of the offers begin
    
4. Offer Review Phase: this concludes with the offer evaluation 
    
5. Award Proposal

At INNOTECH Arbeitsschutz, our customer advisors and technical experts are usually contacted at the beginning of the process for the service description, because the earlier the planning of the facade protection, the better the costs and expenditure can be assessed, and the better the result will be. 

Description of Services for Facade Protection 

For the optimal ITT for your facade protection, the following points should be clarified and described in as much detail as possible:

• Area of Application: What is the specific danger zone where fall protection is required?
   
• Function: Which activities are carried out there and which functions does the safety system have to fulfill?
   
• Facade construction What does my facade look like? What material surface is behind it and what options are there for fastenings?
   
• System Description: What’s the planned system -  e.g. classic fall protection or a system for rope access technology? What are the benefits of the system and why is it the optimal solution for comprehensive all-round protection?
   
• Fastening and Material Specifications: Which anchoring material and which products are best suited for the planned system? 
   
• Investment & Assembly Costs: How are the individual costs made up? Is it a cost calculation based on effort or - as in most cases - a complete solution with a package price?

As you may have already guessed, the optimal ITT for facade protection should be a little longer than just one sentence. Depending on the complexity of the construction project and the corresponding security system, your description of services should be anywhere from 1 to 20 pages long.

3 Pro Tips for the Optimal Invitation to Tender for Your Facade Protection

Ultimately, it shouldn't get too complicated - tenders for construction projects are complex and time-consuming enough already. We’ve got 3 professional tips to help you get it all ready both quickly and professionally:

1. Get a Clear Picture of the Client’s Wants and Requirements
   The better you understand what the client has in mind, the better you can address it in the tender. Find out more, ask questions and communicate your questions or concerns openly and honestly.
   
   The involvement of other partners is basically the most difficult part, since the chain of communication runs from end userto planner to the partner in a flowing process. Nevertheless, in the end, profit will be the final determining factor.
    
2. Plan the Facade Security with Plenty of Time and Bring an Experienced Partner on Board
   The safety system is anl area where you can save noticeable costs and resources, e.g. for assembly work. Custom-made products, in which safety and aesthetics merge, can be planned cost-effectively in the early planning stages.
   
   An experienced partner for fall protection will accompany you through the individual tendering phases and protect you from unnecessary mistakes.
    
3. Get to Know and Use Service Specifications, and Supplement Them with Relevant Additional Information
   Break down the service description into meaningful function blocks and descriptions and add relevant additional information, e.g. special bends or anodizing processes which create an invisible fall protection on the building facade.

Conclusion: The Optimal Invitation to Tender for Your Facade Protection

We’ll say it once again: the earlier the technical advice and planning for facade protection takes place, the better you’ll have your costs under control and the more successful you’ll be in the tendering process. Planning with foresight is essential: especially with complex systems and special solutions it should protect everyone involved from unpleasant cost traps.

Naturally, a small system, such as a 5-meter system for a small glass front, is easier to calculate than complex examples with unpredictable components. At the same time, smaller projects have proportionally higher assembly and production costs.

The most effective way to convince your client is to bring on an experienced partner who can help with planning a realistic cost estimate, and help you come up with solutions that are both safe and aesthetically pleasing. 

Get even more insights into fall protection on facades in our free whitepaper. Have fun browsing!