Differentiating Your Firm with 5D BIM

As a result of the current economic recession, the building market has gotten much more competitive. Owners are working with tighter budgets and have more bids to choose from. They are looking for ways to save more money and accelerate project schedules with earlier completion dates. With more competitive bids for each deal, contractors will need to find ways to distinguish themselves.

 

BIM is exactly the tool that is needed in this rough economic climate. It provides the Owners the savings they need and gives the GC the competitive advantage they need. Many contractors claim that they do "BIM;" most contractors, however, only use it as a marketing tool or for 3D coordination.

 

It's getting more and more difficult to differentiate between BIM and a broader scope of using models for Virtual Design and Construction. As BIM adoption rises and the market tightens it will become more important that contractors show they are ahead of the technology curve and able to provide an Owner with the full benefits this technology offers ‐ by generating cost savings and providing the Owner the confidence that they will get the product they envision at the time that is promised.

 

The RFP is the opportunity to demonstrate this. The typical RFP process is broken down by the following categories:
Interview: 5% ‐ 25% of total
Plan, Pricing and Schedule: 25% ‐ 40% of total
Qualifications: 40% ‐ 70% of total

5D BIM in the Interview
Clients are interested in workflow and how it can help in completing a project successfully. Many presentations use the model as a technical tool to "wow" the client. That's not enough anymore. With 5D BIM your firm can demonstrate the integrated workflow during the interview that will illustrate the approach to the project much more transparently.  Your team can "talk to the model" and communicate to the client the schedule and opportunities for saving the client money.

Plan - Pricing and Schedule
Price - the lowest reasonable price by a qualified GC is often the strongest factor. But Owners are getting wise and identify contractors who low‐bid with the intention of using change orders to recover. With conceptual estimates, GCs hone in on a true cost based on quantities, locations, and past subcontractor efficiency rates.

 

And it's exactly this formula (quantities, locations, production rates), that lead to better subcontractor negotiations. Subcontractors can be more accurate when bidding if the GC is willing to share model data with them. This allows the subcontractor to reduce their contingency and thus reduce their overall price.

 

And when subcontractors work together with the GC to resolve constructability issues during virtual construction, instead of on‐site, there's less need for contingency. This leads directly to increased efficiency in labor production. With more efficient schedules and better logistics, there's no need for stops and starts and last minute rush towards completion.

 

And when your firm applies production control,you are able to track the target cost versus the actual cost much more frequently. This identifies budget overruns early and encourages a thoughtful resolution.

 

Schedule - the fastest reliable schedule is often the second most important factor in a bid. And in some cases, it is the most critical factor. But GCs can have difficulty explaining their schedules to a layperson, especially if they can't express it in an easy‐to‐understand graphical presentation.

 

There are many benefits to utilizing a 4D schedule in a bid. The combination of flowline theory and production control allows a smaller, more efficient team to stream through the site. And with more accurate planning, GCs can remove the typical stops and starts that simply waste labor.

 

Qualifications
Team - Owners know that a top‐notch team will deliver the best results. They look specifically for teams they want to work with - a team who communicates well and is trustworthy. Owners can quickly identify a poorly-structured or overly‐complicated presentation. They need to hear that a proposal is feasible and can be delivered as stated.

 

With a 5D BIM model driving your presentation, team members are able to more clearly illustrate the key points in the language that a layperson will understand. Even more compelling, though, is the ability to show the Owner exactly what is meant. Showing a 5D model to an Owner follows the old adage, "a picture is worth a thousand words."

In the words of a Northeast GC, "The 5D model made it possible to take what I saw so clearly in my head and let the Owner see it, too. This is one of the first benefits of BIM."

 

Techniques - Owners need to understand how the project will be planned and managed. This is so much easier to express with a 5D model, especially when the Owner is a layperson. Too often, construction companies try to communicate the building methodology with non‐integrated, non‐visual techniques, which only muddies the water.

 

Your firm's integrated construction methodology can be easily expressed with transparency through the 5D model. And Owners appreciate a well‐defined process for planning and
managing the job, especially when the plan includes objective measurements and reporting.

 

 

Conclusion
BIM is not a magic bullet. Being BIM‐capable does not mean showing walk‐through animations - it is an integrated construction environment rich with precise quantities, mean and methods, flowline scheduling, and powerful visualizations. Being committed to BIM means using the latest 5D virtual construction technology in conjunction with lean construction methodologies. You can't have one without the other. If you're committed to adding BIM to your portfolio, we're ready to help.

 

If you're interested in this topic, you'll also want to research:

Blog: The BIM Washers Versus the Real Deal

Blog: Talk the Talk AND Walk the Walk with BIM

Blog: BIM Doesn't Come in a Box

Blog: 5D BIM Versus 50-Yard Line Tickets

Blog: The Top 10 Reasons to Do 5D BIM

Blog: The Top 10 Ways to Derail Your BIM Initiatives

Webinar: The BIM Master Class Series

Webpage: The D's of BIM

Webpage: The 5D BIM Checklist

 

 

The BIM Master Class Series

BIM in a Hard Bid Series

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