atcomsystems.ca/forum Forums Wiring - Telecom Carriers - Trunks & Services Cabling Telephones Systems Wiring Cat 6 cabling proposal

I am bidding an 800 drop cabling project. 400 cat 6 and 400 cat 3. Most of the drops are 4-6 data/voice per location. Does anyone have a general standard for bidding these large jobs?

I am bidding against two large firms in Metro Detroit. Any help would be appreciated.

What's the going price in that area?
How bad do you want the job?

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| Need a Telephone | Telephone Installers

Here's my guess:

1000-1200 man hours @________.

$_______ for all materials.

Considerations--

1. Cover ALL labor cost + what you need to make per hour to show a modest profit.

2. Cover ALL material costs + what you need to make to show a modest profit.

3. Cover all "office" costs that will be needed to keep track of all the costs.

It will probably run somewhere between $75 -$100 per drop(average). A lot of factors are involved. Do you supply the labor or will you have to sub some of it out. Do you have some cheaper labor for "gofer" jobs? PVC or Plenum cable? Any special codes for attaching cable to building?? New/existing construction?? etc--etc--etc---and like test-ok says--How bad do you want this?
Good Luck

This might sound like a dumb question.
Why the Cat6 and Cat3?
All new installations I have been involved in has all been integrated. Whether it was Cat5, Cat5e or now Cat6.
To me it makes more sense especially when terminating at the work area, gives greater flexibility for patching options. But if that's what the customer has asked for.....

Something else to consider is the area of installation - factory, office, etc. Different areas different installation practices.

[This message has been edited by dtu (edited November 08, 2004).]

with multiple cables at one location, the best plan is to make it all Cat 5E or Cat6. That way it can be used for either phone or data. By using Cat 3, it limits the use of the cable.

I will propose both cat 3 and cat 6. The customer is looking to compare the prices. I feel they are pinching pennies.

As for the environment it is an office (3 floors) with plenum cabling. Alot of cubicle work.

I have asked a few contractors in the area about their pricing of cat 6 wiring. It ranges from 125-150 with certifications (per individual runs).

The construction is existing and will not be inspected. I would like to win the job
but I want to make some money too!

Sounds like a nice job, I guess it does depend on how badly you want it. Will you be drilling and pulling cables from below for the cubicles or using power poles? I can see why they would want use cat 3 for the voice however misguided it might be, are they doing drops of 4/6 V&D to each user or are they splitting of from each drop to the user? With todays technology it sounds like a lot of jacks for single users, if you new what they were aiming towards you might be able to make recommendations to reduce the number of cables which would reduce their costs but also more than likely improve your margins.

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One stop Voice and Data Solutions VoIP

Keep in mind things like VOIP where users can move their phone to any live drop. This is a reality in 15% of new installs today and growing like mad. No IT dept. invlvement in an office move as long as you supply two live ethernet drops in each office. One thing to note is leagacy stuff like Analog faxes but this is most easily overcome by most newer PBX's

If you get the job you may want to contact clifford of VT for the cable. The make a product called quick pull which is a great way to do large installs and risers. They bind all the individual cables and have the drop-outs at your specified intervals. You pull one large "trunk" along your route and secure it along the way with the specified station runs of specified length coming free at pre-determined locations all pre labeled and ready to terminate. this can save thousands on a job like this and give you the edge on a bid.
Here is a link: https://www.cliffordvt.com/howto.html


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Tim Payson
https://www.cobotyx.com

Alot depends on what the market will pay.Here in N.Y. I have bid jobs i didnt want for $350.00 a drop(figured I price myself out)and won the bid...Quality does'nt cost ... It pays