Sunshade Specification Dilemma

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Author Message David J. Wyatt, CDT Senior Member Username: david_j_wyatt_cdt Post Number: 87 Registered: 03-2011 Posted on Wednesday, July 02, 2014 - 09:45 am:    I recently specified a sunshade system made by a well-known manufacturer. The bidders are complaining that the company will not give them pricing. I placed a call to the company headquarters to inquire about it. The response is they only conduct business-to-business transactions and they do not deal with general contractors. This baffles me. How does one sell construction products if they cannot quote prices or sell products to the ones who install them? I am obviously missing a key principle here. Can any of you enlighten? Richard Howard, AIA CSI CCS LEED-AP Senior Member Username: rick_howard Post Number: 277 Registered: 07-2003 Posted on Wednesday, July 02, 2014 - 09:58 am:    It may be that this product needs to be coordinated by the curtain wall supplier so that it has proper reinforcement and does not void his warranty. If this sunshade product attaches to the structure directly, then I am with you in wondering how it would ever end up getting bid and installed. ken hercenberg Senior Member Username: khercenberg Post Number: 791 Registered: 12-2006 Posted on Wednesday, July 02, 2014 - 10:16 am:    Can you contact your local rep and get them to provide either pricing or subs to submit pricing? Many companies only sell to authorized installers or distributors and won't ruin the relationships they have worked hard at creating. Nathan Woods, CSI, CCCA, LEED AP Senior Member Username: nwoods Post Number: 584 Registered: 08-2005 Posted on Wednesday, July 02, 2014 - 10:31 am:    I recently completed (as in literally yesterday) one of the most complex and challenging sun shade installations in Mechshades history. We had an alternate MFR agressively trying to underbid Mecho, but both bids were indirect, through two different designated installers. After bid, and during and then after the Curtainwall installation, literally hundreds of variables came to light that needed to be worked through, all affecting cost. Perhaps it's a simple matter of the scope not being well defined. How many rollers per motor? Is there space to connect multiple rollers? How many zones? Plenum rated connections or no? How far are the shades from the IDF closet where the controllers are? Which software package do you need? BMS and/or lighting control integration required? Are guide cables needed? What are the cables anchoring to? How high are the shades? Is the GC providing scaffolds? Has the SE signed off on the floor loading for a boom lift? Are the horizontal mullions full depth? If so, how will you address light leakage? Is each window bay a similar size, or will every shade be custom? Are the shade cycles well defined? Are you double rolling a light shade and a black out shade? Lynn Javoroski FCSI CCS LEEDŽ AP SCIP Affiliate Senior Member Username: lynn_javoroski Post Number: 1843 Registered: 07-2002 Posted on Wednesday, July 02, 2014 - 01:56 pm:    David, Is this a system attached to the exterior of a curtainwall system (or storefront system) or an interior roller shade system? If it's the former, then I can understand them not wanting to give a stand-alone price; the connections are vital and a competitor may not have the requisite components as Richard has stated. If it's the latter, then Nathan's comments are applicable, and I'd want additional explanations from my rep. David J. Wyatt, CDT Senior Member Username: david_j_wyatt_cdt Post Number: 88 Registered: 03-2011 Posted on Wednesday, July 02, 2014 - 02:22 pm:    Thank you all for adding to my understanding. Lynn, The sunshade I am referring to is attached to the exterior of the building over windows, but connected to the wall structure rather than the windows or storefront. A little while ago, a representative of the company called me and explained that they only sell their sunshade products to glazing and storefront/curtain wall contractors. I'm still a little mystified as to why GC's cannot participate, but at least I know the policy. Nathan Woods, CSI, CCCA, LEED AP Senior Member Username: nwoods Post Number: 585 Registered: 08-2005 Posted on Wednesday, July 02, 2014 - 02:35 pm:    So its more of a fixed louver system? I think by dealing with the installers instead of the GC, you are probably seeing the result of litigation. If they provide parts and pieces to the curtainwall folks, the curtainwall vendor becomes the sole source and warrantor of the installation.