Finding and engaging the best Subcontractors and Suppliers

Introduction:

In the construction industry, effective collaboration between head contractors, subcontractors, and suppliers is pivotal for project success. Finding reliable partners, establishing clear communication, and acquiring accurate quotes can significantly impact the cost, timeline, and overall quality of your construction project. This blog post will guide head contractors through the process of locating, contacting, and requesting quotes from potential subcontractors and suppliers.

Part 1 - Finding

Strategies for finding the best collaborators

1. Networking - Leverage Industry Networks: Construction is a vast network. Leveraging industry relationships can lead you to reliable subcontractors and suppliers. Attend industry events, join online forums and connect with peers in industry associations. Personal recommendations often lead to fruitful collaborations.

2. Through other builders or contractors

3. Other trades - so

4. Suppliers - It is often in the best interest of material suppliers - particularly specialist suppliers of stone, timber flooring and similar items to connect you with great subbies - this not only helps build their relationship with new buyers but also means that they have the potential to sell more of their product.

5. Past projects and Internal databases

6. Other building sites or vehicles in the area

7. General Research: A thorough research process is key to finding competent subcontractors and suppliers. Leverage online databases, trade publications, and industry directories to compile a list of potential partners. Reach out to industry peers for referrals and recommendations, and don't forget to check online reviews and ratings.

Part 2 - Connecting, Approaching and Engaging

Initial Contact:

Once you have shortlisted potential subcontractors and suppliers, reach out to them directly. Initial contact can be made through email, phone, or in-person meetings. Provide a brief overview of your project and express your interest in their services or products.

1. Make sure you are talking to the right person

2. Make sure they know who you are

3. Be coherent, have a plan

4. Be humble, you don’t need to be an expert - treat them like an expert that will guide you through the process.

Part 3 - Assessing the suitability of contractors

Before beginning your search, clearly define your needs. Understand the specifics of your project, the type of skills required, the materials needed, and the timeline. This will narrow down your search and help you find the most suitable partners.

Check references thoroughly

References should be

1. Recent - projects that have been completed in the last 18 months

2. Like projects - validate that they have completed projects in similar scale, quality and scope

3. Like clients - if you’re a small builder you need to make sure this contractor has worked with small building companies before

Part 4 - Prequalification

This is a crucial step in evaluating potential subcontractors and suppliers. Prequalification can involve checking licences, certifications, company registration and finding things that may make this contractor a non-starter. For example in Australia it is illegal for a licensed builder to subcontract to unlicensed entities, so you should be aware and check this rather than presuming.

Part 5 - Suitability assessment

Here are 10 assessment criteria - give each of these a score out of 10 and a cumulative score out of 100.

1. Capacity

2. Reliability

3. Personability

4. Availability and timing - are they actually available?

5. Job scale - have they completed similar scale

6. Job scope and appropriateness

7. Job Quality expectations - we all want to believe that

8. Responsiveness

9. Value - notice here is not price but the value delivered which overrides price

10. Geography - where they are is important, where they are normally working is important too - where they have other jobs