Retrofitted MEP estimate in 48 hours

The challenge

Every project we engage on starts with a tight constraint set — a fixed bid deadline, an incomplete drawing set, a competing estimator with a different scope read, or a client who needs the numbers defended in a contract dispute. This engagement was no exception.

Distribution warehouse MEP retrofit — client lost their in-house estimator the week the bid was due. Full mechanical, electrical, plumbing estimate delivered in 48 hours from a partial drawing set. Bid submitted on time.

What we did

Our team executed the full Vortex workflow on this project: free scope review within 4 business hours of receiving documents, full quantity takeoff in the client's preferred tool, second-estimator QA review, and bid-day support during the submission window. Every line item in the deliverable was linked back to a specific plan reference with a documented productivity assumption and cost source.

For this industrial project in Phoenix, AZ, we used:

RSMeans Construction Cost Data with the Phoenix city cost modifier
Trade-specific labor productivity references (NECA, MCAA, or PHCC depending on scope)
Current local supplier pricing for volatile materials
Prevailing-wage compliance where the project required public-work rates

The outcome

The headline number for this engagement: 48 hrs turnaround. The deliverable held up under scope review and bid-day clarifications.

This is one of dozens of similar wins we deliver in any given quarter. We can't share names due to NDA, but we can share methodology — and we'd be happy to share references in your specific market segment during the qualification stage.

Other case studies

$38M healthcare MOB — bid won by 1.2%

GC bidding a 4-story medical office building. We caught a 3,400 SF mismatch between the structural plan and the architectural plan that the competing estimator priced as-drawn. Corrected scope shaved $640K from our client's bid.

Concrete takeoff held within 0.4% of as-built

Post-tensioned parking garage. Our pre-bid concrete CY came in within 0.4% of the final delivered tonnage. Client used the variance report to negotiate change orders during construction.

Sponsor licence change order avoided

Higher-education science building. We flagged 17 scope ambiguities during pre-bid takeoff that the design team clarified before construction. The clarifications avoided an estimated $2.1M in change orders.