Elevators: what bids leave out
An elevator bid usually covers the elevator and not much of what it needs around it. The pit, the hoistway, the power, the phone line, the fire alarm tie-in and the machine room all belong to other trades. One bidder lists every item they expect others to provide. Another gives a short proposal and leaves you to find the gaps. Read the 'work by others' section of every elevator proposal line by line before you compare.
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Standard scope checklist
Send this to every bidder and ask them to mark each line Included, Excluded or give an Add $. Silence is not inclusion.
Sending it out? Use the free scope letter template to ask every bidder for line-item scope, inclusions, exclusions and alternates. Terms to know: exclusion.
| # | Scope item |
|---|---|
| 1 | Elevator type: hydraulic, holeless hydraulic, traction or machine-room-less (MRL) |
| 2 | Capacity, speed, stops and openings per drawings |
| 3 | Cab size and accessible cab requirements (confirm with your design team/AHJ) |
| 4 | Cab finishes: walls, ceiling, flooring and handrails (included or allowance) |
| 5 | Entrances, doors and frames: finish and fire rating |
| 6 | Hoistway: construction, size and plumb tolerance (GC or other trade) |
| 7 | Pit: depth, ladder, sump or drain, lighting and waterproofing (by others?) |
| 8 | Rail bracket supports, divider beams and hoist beam (steel or GC) |
| 9 | Sill angles and door sill supports |
| 10 | Machine room or control space: construction, cooling and ventilation |
| 11 | Main power feeder, fused disconnect and shunt trip (electrical sub) |
| 12 | Cab lighting circuit, pit and hoistway lighting and receptacles (electrical sub) |
| 13 | Emergency phone or communication line to the cab (low-voltage or owner) |
| 14 | Fire alarm recall: smoke detectors and interface to the controller (fire alarm sub) |
| 15 | Sprinklers, heat detectors and shunt trip in hoistway or machine room, if required (confirm with your design team/AHJ) |
| 16 | Hoistway venting, if required (confirm with your design team/AHJ) |
| 17 | Hydraulic jack hole drilling, casing and any rock or water (hydraulic only) |
| 18 | Oil line, oil containment or liner (hydraulic only) |
| 19 | Permits, state or jurisdiction inspection and acceptance testing fees |
| 20 | Temporary construction use, protection and cleaning afterward |
| 21 | Maintenance period after turnover and service agreement terms |
| 22 | Lead time for shop drawings, fabrication and installation |
| 23 | Sales tax, bond and prevailing wage |
Common exclusions and how they are worded
| Exclusion | Typical wording | Why it matters | Typical cost to cover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pit & hoistway work |
| The elevator contractor installs into a pit and shaft someone else builds. Pit ladder, sump, drain, lighting and waterproofing often fall between the elevator, concrete and GC scopes. | TBD |
| Power & disconnects |
| The elevator needs a dedicated feeder, a lockable disconnect and separate lighting circuits. Get the elevator's electrical requirements to the electrical bidders early. | TBD |
| Phone & communication line |
| Elevators typically need a working emergency communication line before they can be turned over. Someone has to run the line and someone has to pay the monthly service. | TBD |
| Fire alarm interface |
| Fire alarm recall needs detectors and wiring from the fire alarm system to the controller. If neither bid carries it, the elevator can't pass inspection. | TBD |
| Supports & steel |
| Rail brackets need something solid to attach to at each floor, and the doors need sill supports. Check that steel, masonry or GC bids carry them. | TBD |
| Machine room cooling |
| Controllers have temperature limits. If the machine room or control closet needs cooling, the HVAC bid has to carry it. | TBD |
| Inspection & permit fees |
| Elevators usually need their own permit and an acceptance inspection, sometimes by a state agency. Fees and scheduling are easy to forget. | TBD |
| Jack hole & ground conditions |
| Hydraulic elevators with an in-ground jack need a drilled hole. Rock, water or contaminated soil can change the price quickly. | TBD |
| Construction use & finishes |
| Using the elevator during construction needs protection, a temporary service agreement and cleanup after. Cab finishes may be an allowance that's too low for what's drawn. | TBD |
“Typical cost to cover” is TBD. We will publish ranges only once we have real, sourced data. Until then, use your own estimate or a confirmed add price from a bidder.
Questions to ask bidders
- Can you list every item in your 'work by others' section so we can assign each one?
- What does your price assume about the pit: ladder, sump, drain, lighting and waterproofing?
- What power, disconnect and lighting circuits do you need, and where?
- Who provides the emergency communication line, and is monitoring included?
- Who provides fire alarm recall devices and the wiring to your controller?
- Who provides rail bracket supports, sill angles and any hoist beam?
- Are permit, inspection and acceptance testing fees included?
- Is construction use included? If so, what protection and cleanup do you carry, and what maintenance period is included after turnover?
Bid-ready elevator contractors
Contractors who agree to price against the standard checklist above, with exclusions spelled out line by line. Listings are not live yet.
Featured listing
Your company · City, ST
Bids on the BidGaps checklist
Featured listing
Your company · City, ST
Bids on the BidGaps checklist