(a) State what factors need to be considered when tendering an estimate for a contract.

(b) Before tendering as a contractor supplying materials and equipment specified by the client, state briefly some checks that should be made prior to compiling the tender in order to determine any contract clauses, contingencies or unforeseen circumstances that may affect future profits.

(c) Prepare a tender/estimate for the installation of 20 steel street lamps in 5 streets of a small town to replace ageing concrete lamp standards, using the following information.

The holes for the lamp standards have to be excavated using manual labour. The old concrete lamps need to be removed using a lorry mounted crane or ‘Hiab', which also serves as an extendable high platform.

The old lamps are first disconnected by the Supply Authority, which does not form part of the contract. Removal of old standards to contractor depot is part to the contract. The new lamp standards consist of the lanterns (lights) complete with the ballast, ignitor, capacitor and lamp already fitted. The main materials then are the column, the lantern, the cable to wire it, a photo-electric cell, tarmas and the concrete. The lamps are supplied by the contractor to the client's specification. The lamp standards have to be erected then concreted (6 metre columns specified require a 1.3 m buried root depth) then the luminaires/lanterns fixed to the top and connected to the connection box at the base of the column. In order to keep the street lighting disruption to a minimum during lamp standard replacement, arrangements are made with the supply authority to disconnect old standards and connect the ‘tails' (i.e. loose cable one end of which is connected to the lamp standard to be used to connect to the supply cable) of new standards.