Submittal Process Basic Overview

Summary

The video explains the submittal management process in construction, emphasizing the roles of the general contractor, subcontractors, and the design team. It outlines how subcontractors can propose alternative products that meet original specifications, aiming for cost efficiency. The general contractor compiles a submittal item registry, guiding subcontractors to gather necessary documentation. The design team reviews these submissions to ensure compliance with contract requirements. This rigorous process ensures quality control before any construction begins, highlighting the potential for automation to streamline operations, especially for projects with numerous submittal items.

Takeaways

• 😀 Bidders can substitute different brands of equipment or materials as long as they meet original specifications.
• 📝 Substitutions allow subcontractors to offer lower prices by finding more competitive products.
• 👷‍♂️ The project design team must accept substitutions to prevent the use of inferior or improper products.
• 📑 After selecting a winning bidder, the general contractor initiates the submittal management process.
• 🔍 Contractors cannot proceed with construction until all submittals have been accepted by the design team.
• 📋 The submittal management process involves three participants: the construction manager, subcontractor, and design team.
• 📄 The construction manager creates a submittal item registry listing all items needing review.
• 🔗 Subcontractors locate the required documentation for submission, often using manufacturer data sheets.
• ✉️ Once documents are uploaded, they are routed to the construction manager for a simple review.
• 🖊️ The design team reviews submissions, applies stamps to indicate review status, and returns documents to the contractor.

Q & A

What is the main purpose of the competitive bidding process mentioned in the transcript?

The competitive bidding process allows bidders to substitute different brands of equipment or materials as long as they meet the original specifications, enabling subcontractors to provide lower prices if they find more competitive products.

Who must accept the substitutions made by the subcontractors?

The project design team must accept the substitutions to ensure that contractors do not use inferior or improper products.

What is the submittal management process?

The submittal management process involves verifying all bid materials and products after a contractor has been selected as the winning bidder, and it ensures that all submitted documents meet the contract specifications before construction can proceed.

Who are the three main participants in the submittal management process?

The three main participants are the construction manager or general contractor, the subcontractor, and the architect or design team.

What is the role of the construction manager in the submittal process?

The construction manager is responsible for creating a list of submittal items that need to be submitted for each subcontractor and managing the overall review process.

How do subcontractors typically find the required documentation for their submittals?

Subcontractors usually locate the required documentation by accessing manufacturer data sheets for the products or materials to be used, or by working directly with building product manufacturers, fabricators, or distributors.

What happens after the general contractor reviews the submitted documents?

Once the general contractor reviews the documents and ensures they match the requirements, they place a stamp on the document and notify the appropriate design team member to initiate their review.

What does the design team do during the review process?

The design team reviews each submitted item to ensure it meets the contract specifications and may add markups or comments for any required changes before applying a stamp to indicate the review status.

Why is it unusual for a contractor to begin ordering materials before the submittals are accepted?

It is unusual because if the submittals are rejected, the contractor would not be paid for the ordered products, making it risky to proceed without acceptance.

How can automation impact the submittal management process?

Automation can streamline the submittal management process, saving significant time for both the general contractor and subcontractor, especially in projects with over 1,000 submitt items.