PRE-BID INVESTIGATION

CHECK LIST

ByManoj Kumar Panigrahy

PMP,CCP,CCCM,PRINCE2
Practitioner

METROLOGICAL
DATA
Check

the month wise temperature and

humidity ranges including record low and high
temperatures for each month.
Check the wind-chill or heat-index data.
Check the rainfall and snow averages by month.
Check the average number of precipitation days
for each month.
Check the susceptibility of the area to and
frequency of extreme storm activitythunder
storms, snow storms, tornadoes, and hurricanes.
Check the frost depth.

GEOGRAPHICAL DATA
Check the following maps and annotate them

with responses to questions appearing later in

the checklist:
I. State maps to show overall highway, railroad,
and water networks;
II.
Locate maps to show details of nearby
communities and local road networks; and
III. Topographic (contour) map
. Check the population of each nearby community.
. Check the existing drainage system for the area.
. Check the site altitude.

GEOGRAPHICAL & SUB SURPHACE

DATA
Obtain a geological map of the area.
Check for the subsurface conditions at the project site i.e Soils and its

characteristics as well as water table.

Find , if any part of the site is a fill area. If so, show its location and
describe the type of fill.
Will dewatering be required?
For excavations, what methods or equipment will be required for soil
removal?
Will shoring be needed for ditches and other excavations?
Will the natural ground support construction equipment both rubber-tired
and tracked?
Identify the drainage characteristics of the topsoil following precipitation.
How long does it take for the surface to dry out? Will top soils be
particularly dusty when dry, if vegetation is removed?
Will a temporary construction drainage system be needed?
Obtain a plot plan of all known underground utility and drainage
systems, or other underground structures or obstacles.

SITE PREPARATION
Can excess cut material be sold? If so, to whom and

at what price? If not, where are disposal areas

located? What are the disposal costs involved?
If fill material is required, where are its sources
located? What is its cost?
What overhead lines or other structures will limit
operations or prove to be a safety hazard in
cleaning the site?
Will erosion control structures be required?
What historical structures, graveyards, plantings, or
other features must be moved or protected during
site preparation or while construction is under way?

ACCESS TO SITE
Describe existing roads in terms of lanes, surface type

and condition, capacity limitations, restrictive features,

etc. What must be done to upgrade them for contractor
use? Will the contractor have any responsibility for
maintaining these roads?
What new access roads must be developed and who will
develop them? Are existing easements or rights-of-way
available for such roads? If not, what must be done to
obtain them?
Is adequate parking space available on the site? If not,
where must workers park and how do they get to the
site? What parking space development is still required
and who will do it? Is the parking area fenced or must
fencing be added?

UNLOADING AND
STORAGE
Can material be received and stockpiled on the site

before construction begins? If so, what security will

be required and who will provide it? Will the owner
provide labor to receive these materials? Will this
create union jurisdictional problems?
What on-site areas are available for development by
the contractor into lay down or other
storage/prefabrication areas?
What off-site storage sites are available to handle
items that cannot be stored on site?
What special facilities and equipment will be required
for materials handling? Which are existing and which
must be developed?

UTILITIES AND TEMPORARY

FACILITIES

Are

existing structures available for construction use? If so, describe their potential use. If
not, describe any development that is required. Obtain drawings or other dimensional data
on these structures.

May any of the permanent structures to be constructed be used by the contractor on a

temporary basis during construction?

Identify locations on the site or in nearby areas that are available for temporary structures. If
off-site areas must be used, who provides them?

Must the contractor provide temporary facility space for owner personnel or others?
Will the owner take over any temporary structures when the project is complete or must the
contractor remove them?

Who provides office furnishings?

Who provides potable water? What is its source and what development is required? Will
there be separate water systems for concrete water, dust control, and fire protection? If so,
what is their source, who provides them, and what development is required?

What sanitary facilities (toilets, washrooms, sewer systems) exist? What must be developed
and who provides them?

How are heating and air conditioning handled and who provides them? What development is
required?
What is the source of electrical power (location, voltage, phases, capacity)? What must be
done to provide power and who provides it?

Is steam required for construction use? If so, what is its source and who provides it?

Is compressed air or other construction gas required for construction use? If so, what is its
source and who provides it?
Who provides trash and garbage pickup service?

LOCAL MATERIALS,SERVICES AND SUB

CONTRACTORS
Provide names, addresses and other data with

respect
to
local
specialty
construction
contractors whose services may be required in
the performance of the contract.
What is the source of ready-mix concrete and
what is its price? If the contractor must supply
concrete, what is the source of aggregates and
cement?
What trucking firms maintain offices in nearby
communities?
Obtain
classified
sections
of
telephone
directories for nearby communities.

LOCAL CONDITIONS
If

the site is within an operating facility, what special

requirements exist with respect to gates, restricted areas, etc.?
Does the potential exist for union problems between operating
personnel and construction personnel?
To what extent has the owner coordinated with local
governments and agencies concerning this project?
Do any political or cultural situations exist that can affect the
project? Does the project enjoy public support?
Are there any unresolved or incomplete actions (such as owner
permits) that could delay the planned start of the project or
affect construction progress?
Is the project of such a nature and/or so located that adjacent
communities are going to be subjected to high levels of
construction noise, dust, traffic, or conditions that may
precipitate complaints and legal actions or that otherwise
adversely affect community relations?

HEALT, SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENT AND

SECURITY
What medical support will be available? Who provides it?
Where are nearby hospitals, dispensaries, and clinics? What services

do they have available?

How is ambulance service provided? Is air evacuation service
available?
How will fire protection be provided?
What is required to comply with environmental regulations relating
to garbage, trash, dust, noise, erosion, hazardous waste, chemical
spills, and burning? Who provides these services?
Will project personnel be exposed to hazardous fumes, chemicals, or
radiation for which special protective equipment and training must
be provided?
Is a local service available to provide chemical toilets? Are these the
portable type or toilet trailers?
What nearby commercial firms are licensed to handle and
transport hazardous waste to licensed disposal areas?

SECURITY
What

law enforcement agencies have

jurisdiction over the project site, supporting
communities, and transportation networks?
If the project is open shop, will local law
enforcement agencies provide protection in
case of adverse union activity?
Is security fencing to be provided? By
whom? Who provides the guard force and
any surveillance systems?

TRANSPORTATION

On

a map showing the transportation network, identify:

Weight

and dimensional limitations of any roads, bridges, and tunnels;

Railroad lines and receiving docks;
Available barge waterways and docks; and
Available airports.

For

railroad service:

What

railroad lines serve the area?

Will a railroad spur be required? If so, who provides it and what line
does it tie into?

Identify

the commercial air carriers serving the area and the

airports from which they operate. List the maximum size aircraft
that can use at each airport.

For barge service, identify available dockage, any weight and

dimensional restrictions, seasonal availability, or other
restrictions. Also list other ports on the system.

Describe public transportation available for personnel.

LABOR
If this is a union project, identify the names and location of locals whose crafts

will be used. Get copies of all agreements and wage scales to be applied.
Specifically identify any work rules involving limitations on production,
overtime, travel pay and time, showup pay, etc. Note the expiration dates of all
agreements and assess the potential for strikes upon expiations. Discuss any
conditions relating to the area's union culture that may affect project
performance and costs.
If this is an open shop project, determine the prevailing wages through state
employment agencies, local contractors, or other sources. Identify worker
source areas and estimate the availability of each craft over the life of the
project. In making these evaluations, consider the demands of other existing or
planned projects in the area that may compete for the same personnel.
Will any skills training of personnel be required? If so which skills and who will
provide the training?
Evaluate the local economic situation with respect to its effect on availability,
productivity, and wage scales for personnel.
Describe any conditions (such as commuting distance or high-crime area) that
may limit personnel recruiting potential or contribute to high turnover.
Obtain any data available that might show area labor productivity.
Is there any potential in this area for government-subsidized job training
programs for the work force?

CONSTRUCTION
EQUIPMENT
Identify

equipment that the owner or other

contractors
will
provide.
What
is
the
reimbursement system for this support?
Identify
special types of equipment the
contractor must provide.
Will equipment servicing and maintenance be
handled in on-site facilities or by contract with
local firms?
Will there be any impediments to moving
equipment onto the job site (such as limited
capacity roads and bridges, restrictive tunnels,
or overhead wires)?

COMMUNICATIO
N
How is telephone service to be provided?
Will there be any on-site communications

(such as loudspeaker or radio)? Who

provides them?
Is overnight express mail/parcel service
available?

PERMIT, TAXES &

FEES
Is the project tax exempt, either locally or

federally?
What state and local taxes will apply?
Is a contractor license required to operate
in the area? What are the requirements?
What permits will be required of the
contractor?
What hookup fees will the contractor pay
(phone, water, sewer, electrical, etc.)?

PROFESSIONAL &
OFFICE STAFF
Is adequate housing available in nearby

communities for contractor professional

staff?
What are the availability and wage scale of
local-hire office personnel?

MISCELLENOUS
What

support or services must the

contractor provide to the owner, engineer,
subcontractors, or others onsite?
Will participation in any special programs
(such as substance abuse control) be
required of the owner?