Professional Advice - BIM Design Cost

[simplex13]

Let me start of by saying I love this site it has helped me tremendously over the years. I have been doing free lance design work on the side for awhile and I have reached the point where I am getting job offers to do BIM Design for a few of my clients. The problem is what to charge for design projects of this nature.

I know exactly where I need to be to get standard non BIM Design work. But when it comes to this area I am lost. I know one major concern is how many times will the clash detection take place. Becuase I don't want to assume they will do it one time and move forward. I've heard of some jobs having multiple clash meetings where floor or areas have been corrected or redesigned 3 and 4 times. If I'm not careful I could get into a situation where I am working for free real quickly.

Any professional advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you all in advance who respond.

 

[MGXFP]

I would offer an hourly costs for the BIM process.

There are too many variables to BIM coordination. If a bad or inexperienced team is in place you will waste lots of time and effort and still have a bad product. A good team can make quick work of the process. This is from experience.

The human element is the hardest to quantify so I would plan on an hourly rate.

 

[PEDARRIN2]

Are you referring to clash detection you do as you do the initial design or the clash detection done by the contractors who have been awarded the project?

If the former, it should be a part of your design process, but usually takes up to 10-20% of the design hours for a project.

If the latter, that can be tricky because the contractors have to make the pipe/duct/conduit/etc. fit in the spaces allotted. Getting an hourly fee will be difficult if not impossible to obtain pre bid. It also depends on the complexity of the project. If it is a simple office building, it would likely be on the low side. If it is a hospital or lab building, it can be more. It also depends on the competence (or lack thereof) of the design. There is an assumption the design, while not conflict free, will have minimal conflicts. I have seen change orders approved to "correct" bad designs.

 

[TravisMack]

I do 99% of my work on a fixed fee basis. I just find it easier all around. I have a multiplier with BIM projects that I use. It has taken me about 10 years to finally get this multiplier right where it is pretty darn accurate for the projects. I will say if you are doing "side" work, then you should probably avoid any BIM project. Will you be able to do the on-line meetings during the day? I average around 20-40 BIM projects per year. I couldn't imagine doing these on the side. I have 4 currently going on right now. It can be interesting at times.

In fire sprinklers, it is often a slight challenge with the BIM process. The other trades often have an approved set of drawings in the contract set. With sprinks, we often don't have that to start. So, you not only have to do your full design so you can get the permit process moving, you also have to do the BIM portion of the work concurrently. Once you get it stream-lined, it is not too bad.

You can call me and I will help you work through developing your own multiplier for BIM projects. I just don't want to publish my fee schedule on a general forum.

Travis Mack
MFP Design, LLC

http://www.mfpdesign.com

"Follow" us at

https://www.facebook.com/pages/MFP-Design-LLC/92218417692

 

[MGXFP]

I've had projects where the mechanical contractor modeled the wrong size duct on purpose to get more money from the GC and where the field crew threw away the BIM coordinated plans and just installed everything where they saw fit.

Also there have been projects where everything went smoothly and very little rework was needed.

As stated above it really depends on the type of building. I would think a percentage would be appropriate as the medical occupancies take longer to design than say a box store.

You've given me some motivation to check my reported hours vs. what was predicted to see if my factors need a new adjustment.

 

[TravisMack]

Hey NewtonFP, shoot me an email sometime. I'd like to discuss this with you a bit if you don't mind.

Travis Mack
MFP Design, LLC

http://www.mfpdesign.com

"Follow" us at

https://www.facebook.com/pages/MFP-Design-LLC/92218417692