MEP estimating service
MEP Bill of Quantities (BOQ) Preparation
Structured, CSI-organized bills of quantities for mechanical, electrical, plumbing and fire protection, built for tendering, apples-to-apples bid comparison and progress payments.
- CSI MasterFormat structure (Divisions 21–28)
- Priced or unpriced for tendering
- Ready for schedule-of-values and pay apps
Free quote
Send plans. Get a firm quote.
- Quote back after a quick plan review
- Typical delivery in 24–48 hours
- Excel estimate + marked-up drawings
- Priced to Florida labor and material rates
Or email ask@floridamepestimating.com
24–48 hr typical turnaround
NDA-protected plans
Florida Building Code aware
Florida labor & material pricing
Overview
One document every bidder prices the same way
When five subcontractors price MEP their own way, comparing bids becomes guesswork. One includes the generator, one excludes it. One carries the fire alarm, another assumes it’s by others. A bill of quantities fixes that. Every bidder prices the same items, units and quantities, so you compare numbers instead of interpreting them.
We prepare MEP BOQs for owners, developers, construction managers and general contractors. Each BOQ is organized by CSI division and system, with clear item descriptions, units and quantities taken from the drawings and specs. We can deliver it unpriced for tendering, or priced as an engineer’s estimate you can measure bids against.
After award, the same BOQ becomes the backbone of your schedule of values and payment applications, which makes monthly progress billing far easier to check.
BOQ contents
What goes into our MEP BOQs
- Division 21 fire suppression items
- Division 22 plumbing systems and fixtures
- Division 23 HVAC equipment, ductwork and piping
- Division 25 integrated automation (where used)
- Division 26 electrical distribution, power and lighting
- Division 27 communications and structured cabling
- Division 28 electronic safety and security
- Preliminaries: testing, commissioning, O&M and training
- Provisional sums and allowances, clearly labeled
- Alternates and add/deduct items
- Units of measure and measurement notes
- Drawing and spec references for every item
Florida factors
How a BOQ helps on Florida projects
Florida’s construction market moves fast and bidder pools change from county to county. On public and institutional work, a clear BOQ cuts bid protests and post-award disputes because everyone priced the same scope. On private work, it gives developers and lenders a cleaner view of MEP cost before they commit.
BOQs are also useful on storm-recovery and phased renovation projects, where scope gets added in stages. Unit rates from the original BOQ give you a fair basis for pricing extra work without starting from scratch.
At a glance
BOQ options
| Type | Prepared for | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| Unpriced BOQ | Owners, CMs, GCs | Tendering MEP packages to multiple bidders |
| Priced BOQ (engineer’s estimate) | Owners and lenders | Budget validation and bid evaluation |
| Schedule of values | Contractors | Pay applications and progress billing |
| Variation BOQ | Owners and contractors | Pricing scope changes from agreed rates |
Scope gaps we catch
BOQ problems that lead to bid disputes
A bill of quantities only works if bidders read every line the same way. We avoid the problems that cause disputes after award.
- Vague item descriptions that let bidders price different products
- Missing units of measure or mixed units for the same item
- Provisional sums that aren't clearly labeled as allowances
- Scope split between divisions with no clear responsibility
- Testing and commissioning left out of the priced items
- No drawing or spec reference to trace each line
Our process
How our MEP estimating process works
- 01
Send your plans
Upload PDFs, CAD files or a bid-portal link with specs, addenda and the bid date. A quick scope note helps.
- 02
Get a fixed quote
We confirm scope, price and delivery date before any work starts. No surprises on the invoice.
- 03
Takeoff & pricing
Estimators count and measure every MEP item, then price labor and material for the project's Florida location.
- 04
Senior QA review
A second estimator checks quantities, scope gaps and math against the drawings and specs.
- 05
Bid-ready delivery
You get the Excel estimate, marked-up drawings and a clarifications list you can send with your bid.
FAQs
Frequently asked questions
Straight answers to what contractors usually ask before sending plans. Don’t see your question? Call or email us.
What's the difference between a BOQ and a quantity takeoff?
A quantity takeoff is a working document for an estimator. A BOQ is a formal, structured document with item descriptions, units and quantities that multiple bidders price the same way.
Can you follow our own BOQ template?
Yes. If your organization or lender has a required format, send it and we’ll build the BOQ inside it.
Do you include measurement rules?
Yes. We note how each item was measured, for example duct by surface area or weight and pipe by linear foot, so bidders price on the same basis.
Can you price the BOQ?
Yes. A priced BOQ acts as an engineer’s estimate you can use to evaluate bids and spot outliers.
Is a BOQ useful for subcontractor bids too?
Yes. GCs often issue an MEP BOQ to subs so the bid leveling step is faster and fairer.
How long does a BOQ take?
Turnaround depends on project size and how complete the drawings are. We confirm the delivery date before starting.
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- Call1 (816) 683-1595
- Office349 State Ln, Orlando, FL 32801