In some locales there may be a number of design/build low voltage and LED lighting companies. Project scale may justify the time and expense of procuring competitive bids. A competitive bid is not simply the lowest price; it is the best price submitted that meets identical specifications. Without an exact match in specifications there is no basis for comparison.
Preparation of bid documents by a lighting professional insures that all bids are for the same quality and quantity of work and typically include equipment specifications and quantities for each component, details of installation methods, performance guarantees and complete warranty information.
Note that equipment specifications do not necessarily list manufacturer's model numbers (since some companies prefer one brand to another) but state the acceptable specifications in terms of construction and performance. If a particular brand of components are required this is signaled by the phrase "no substitutions"; if not, the phrase "or equivalent" is used.
A complete and detailed lighting plan is necessary before bid documents are developed. Any experienced lighting design/build company can prepare these documents for a fee that is invariably deducted if that company is the successful bidder. This fee would probably be in the $300.00 to $500.00 range but could be substantially higher for large-scale projects.
Where 120v preparations are required to implement the low voltage lighting system, these requirements should be written as separate bid specifications. Some homeowners prefer that their own electrical contractor (being familiar with the existing 120v wiring) do needed prep work. A licensed electrician familiar with the increased load capacities required must do any changes or additions to 120v circuits.
The documents are then sent to the companies for bid. If procedures outlined are not followed a competitive bid is not possible since pricing will not be for directly comparable services.
Calling in a number of low voltage lighting companies to get prices for outdoor lighting is very haphazard and ultimately flawed. Each company will propose a different light scheme using different types and amounts of equipment of unknown quality. In this circumstance there is no accurate method of determining which quote is the best value. The best value rather than the lowest price is the criterion upon which an informed decision is made.
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