13th February 2006, 02:29 PM
I regularly assess tenders from archaeological units, and I also find that the prices sometimes vary enormously (highest price sometimes more than 100% more than lowest).
Differences in pay scales do contribute to this in a small way, but a much bigger factor is the unit's assessment of how many staff/how long it will take to do a particular bit of work. You can specify the nature and content of the work as tightly as you like, and you may still get one unit assuming they can do it in a week with two people while another wants three weeks with four people.
Another key aspect is sections of the work that cannot reasonably be estimated for in advance. How do you know, for instance, how many radiocarbon dates you will need? Units are often put in the position of having to guess, and their guesses vary widely. We deal with this by identifying those items and making the guess on quantity ourselves; the unit then just has to put in the rate that they will charge. They get paid for the actual amount used.
So, overall, its a much more complex question than simply lowest pay = lowest tender.
1man1desk
to let, fully furnished
Differences in pay scales do contribute to this in a small way, but a much bigger factor is the unit's assessment of how many staff/how long it will take to do a particular bit of work. You can specify the nature and content of the work as tightly as you like, and you may still get one unit assuming they can do it in a week with two people while another wants three weeks with four people.
Another key aspect is sections of the work that cannot reasonably be estimated for in advance. How do you know, for instance, how many radiocarbon dates you will need? Units are often put in the position of having to guess, and their guesses vary widely. We deal with this by identifying those items and making the guess on quantity ourselves; the unit then just has to put in the rate that they will charge. They get paid for the actual amount used.
So, overall, its a much more complex question than simply lowest pay = lowest tender.
1man1desk
to let, fully furnished