tech' subs'
“We write technical submissions that get the detail right before the work gets underway.”
Technical Submissions
Provides an essential link between the project specification, tender proposal and eventual installed works.
Prepared during the pre-contract and tender stages, they identify the equipment, materials and systems upon which the contractor's offer is based and demonstrate compliance with the specified technical, performance and statutory requirements.
A properly managed Technical Submission clearly identifies proposed manufacturers and model references, provide relevant technical and performance data, declare alternatives or departures from the specification and establish an auditable record of the contractor's technical offer.
This information subsequently provides an important foundation for construction-stage approvals and the preparation of final O&M documentation.
It is reviewed and updated to reflect the equipment and systems actually installed before inclusion within the final handover documentation.
Good O&M documentation does not begin at handover. It begins with controlling the information from the tender stage onwards.
Technical Submissions — Pre-Contract / Tender Stage
A Technical Submission during the pre-contract tender stage is the contractor’s formal presentation of the equipment, materials, systems and technical solutions proposed for the project.
Its purpose is to demonstrate that what is being offered complies with the Employer’s Requirements, consultant’s specification, drawings, schedules, performance criteria, statutory requirements and relevant standards before an order is placed or installation begins.
Why Technical Submissions matter at tender stage
Specified product compliance — confirmation that proposed equipment meets the specification.
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Manufacturer and model selection — identifying precisely what has been allowed for within the tender.
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Performance compliance — capacities, efficiencies, outputs, ratings, environmental conditions and operating parameters.
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Standards and certification — applicable BS, EN, UKCA/CE documentation, test certification and other required approvals.
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Design compatibility — demonstrating that the proposed equipment can be integrated with the overall building-services design.
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Interfaces — identifying electrical, mechanical, controls, BMS, fire alarm, data and other system interfaces.
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Installation requirements — dimensions, weights, access requirements, electrical supplies, pipework connections, clearances and maintenance space.
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Alternatives and substitutions — formally identifying departures from specified manufacturers or products.
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Commercial clarity — establishing exactly what equipment and technical performance have been included within the tender price.
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Early identification of discrepancies — exposing omissions, conflicts or impractical requirements before they become expensive construction-stage problems.
Pre-contract Technical Submission
Detailed for the designer, consultant or client to make an informed technical assessment.
Depending upon the equipment, it would typically contain the manufacturer's technical literature, product data sheets, model and catalogue references, performance data, dimensions, electrical characteristics, controls information, acoustic information, efficiency data, certification, warranties and relevant drawings.
Most importantly, includes compliance statement against the specification.
Simply submitting a manufacturer's 40-page catalogue and expecting the consultant to determine which product has been offered is not good technical submission practice.
'“Technical Submissions are the first phase of the O&M Manual authoring process establishing the technical information, products and systems that will ultimately form the record of the completed building.”
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