That's pretty interesting...
On some bigger work I guess it may be standard practice but not usual (to my experience anyway).
If the job is a "BID", you cannot negotiate anything with anyone; that is illegal! It's called Bid-rigging. But, I suppose once you have the job you could try to work out deals with your GC...or maybe it never went out for bids on AGC or Dodge but was instead just given to you guys (that happens).
The biggest job I have ever been on was a 26 Million dollar (electrical!) hospital on Fort Bragg in North Carolina. We were subs under Centex. I was one of three Electrical Superintendants responsible for my parts of the project and my subs (we subed out alot of the work like the fire alarm, the nurse call, lightning protection, etc.).
We got the job by being low bidder. BUT ----afterwards you negotiate extra's and other aspects as well (the PM's usually do).
I was one of only 5 licensed electrican's on that job (LOL, believe it or not!) and we had over 100 people doing electrical work on that hospital! That's the way it is in North Carolina. It's a "right-to-work" state.
My present company is much smaller than the one I describe above (it's just me and 5 others in the field and 2 office girls). I am the only license holder and I am the only one required to be in the state of North Carolina. It is MUCH DIFFERENT than my Boston, Mass. days where I first started in this trade.
But, anyway, I guess we could say that some aspects are always negotiated in a way, BUT, a BID or a QUOTE is seldom subject to change except of course if they add more work.
:~)
