Intermediate Question Buffalo Bills Stadium

[hpwasher]

OK...I always dream about doing a huge job. Matt Johnson told me 2 years ago "if I ever needed help pressure washing the Bills stadium, he would be the first in line to help out." Needless to say I laughed! Well today I got the call. Not pressure washing the stadium but half way there. The RFQ was to supervise 16 men pressure washing 80,000 seats at the Buffalo Bills Stadium. The job quote will be for 2 of my men to supervise this entire crew of 16 to pressure wash for 3 days (13 hours each day). These men have no training what so ever, the maintenance department bought 16 new pressure washers for 16 men with no experience.

Question 1: I want to make sure they comply with OSHA and the clean water act. The head of maintenance said they will not be using any chemicals. But wont that wash water still be contaminated??

Question 2: The stadium is basically all concrete with aluminum seating. I really don't know how they can mess it up unless they are using 0-turn nozzles to engrave their names?

Question 3: I usually charge $70 for labor an hour. I'm taking a guess I will be competing against many companies for this bid. I don't want them to be based on price alone. The head of maintenance basically just wants a quote. should I fax over my qualification certificates as well? I have more knowledge of pressure washing than 70% of the contractors in the area.

[Scott Stone]

I can tell you why I would not want to do it.
However, you need to get your standard hourly rate for pressure washing. You could deduct what your operating costs are, but I would not.

Now, on to more important things. You need to determine why they want an outside contractor to manage the operation.
1. To spread the liiability around.
2. To avoid having to hire a manager type person on a full time basis.
3. To build a scapegoat. (I.E. Read number one)
4. They are going to suck as much knowledge and training from you as they can, and then willl dump you.

I would be really cautious about the liability factors. I recently decided to not bid on a large facility in my local area, partially because I know that they are having structural problems and have not done what they need to remediate them. They are significant enough that the structural engineers that did the study will not go to an event there. They theorize that since the structure is older, that for whatever reason it does not handle the pressure washing that it goes through well and is damaged each time the facility is pressure washed, just from the water. It even receives some damage due to rain. I think that the Bills stadium is nearly that old.

To avoid hiring a manager is actually a good strategy. I would make sure that I knew what their expectations of your men supervising is. I would bet they are thinking that they are going to get your guys for around $30 an hour.

They might want to have someone to blame, even if there is no theoretical damage but a failed program that they can blame on an inept contractor. (that would be you)

They might just want you to train their people and then dump you. Good strategy on their part that would not necessarily be something to your benefit.

[Mathew Johnson]

LOL, Chris, be careful for what you wish for. I am on board with Scott on this....

1) EPA violation? Who are they going to blame?


2) Damage to property from "novice man running wand". Who are they going to blame?


3) Novice man running wand hurts self, Who are they going to blame?


4) Novice man hurts someone else. Who are they going to blame?


5) Property doen't come clean. Who are they going to blame?


6) Equipment purchased doesn't work or breaks. Who are they going to blame?


The list goes on and on. I will give you a call.