Working With Us As A Subcontractor

Fulcrum Associates has established an excellent local and national presence and reputation for both quality construction, and for treating our subcontractors fairly. There has been a trend in our industry to drive marginal subcontractors into contracts far below what is a fair price for the project. Although this looks good in the initial budget, it seldom works. It only takes one failure of a major subcontractor to destroy the schedule and delay the entire project. When we evaluate a subcontractor, we investigate his or her reputation, financial capabilities, and available manpower as well as his price. What We Have To Offer Subcontractor performance is the cornerstone of a successful project. Performance, however, requires a joint effort by both the contractor and subcontractor. As a building team member, we make the following commitments to all of our subcontractors and vendors:

• Select List Bidding. We limit competitive bids to a maximum of three for all trades.
• Bid Listing. Construction's competitive bid system is based on the award of the contract to the lowest responsible bidder. We do not "bid shop" or "bid peddle". The work will always be awarded to the low offeror who meets all the requirements of the bid documents. We will provide a list of all bidders and their prices after the subcontract award.
• Prompt Payments. We are leading the industry in working to get payment times shortened.
• Prompt, equitable change order resolution. Change happens, ignoring it and hoping for it to go away accomplishes nothing.
• Retainage of 5% maximum, and in many cases zero!
• Well run projects. We'll be ready when we promised, and do everything in our power to aid your efficiency and production.
• A Safe Environment. We are extremely proud of our safety record over the past ten years. We want you to be a part of it.
• Open, Honest Communication. Only by keeping you informed of progress and events which impact your performance can we expect you to perform your work efficiently.

• High quality work. As we stated above, it is our policy not to use marginal contractors that compete on price alone. We compete on performance and quality; we expect the same from our subcontract team members.
• Dependable performance. The only way we can guarantee the project will be ready for you when promised is if the sub before you keeps his word. The team member whose work follows yours is counting on you.
• Open, Honest Communication. We expect you to keep us informed of potential delays, changes and coordination issues in a timely manner.
• Timely billings. Cash flow is our lifeblood. Late billings delay our payments, and in turn everyone else's.