4 Keys for MEP Contractors to Win Data Center Bids

As data center construction keeps growing, MEP contractors see opportunities. However, data centers are much more than building envelopes that house computers. Winning the bids to install their systems requires the highest levels of capabilities and experience. 

Still, owners and general contractors are hungry for specialty contractors equipped to take on the rigid timelines and detailed specs of data center construction.

This article explores the 4 keys to gaining experience and winning the bids. Contractors who come to the table with demonstrated expertise, innovative solutions, collaborative approaches and detailed cost breakdowns have an inside edge on jobs that furnish data centers with the MEP systems crucial to operations.

1. Demonstrated Expertise

A trusted brand and industry recognition are essentials for getting in the door. 

Elements that show expertise include highly qualified staff and a portfolio of successful projects.

MEP contractors working in data centers equip their staff with the latest in certifications and training. A strategic learning management system is pressure-tested and equips staff with cutting-edge capabilities and expertise for the industry’s future. It also attracts and retains top talent eager to keep building their own capacities and pursuing career growth — preferably with your firm.

An existing portfolio of projects can help as well, but it's good to start small: Many data centers are small projects, built as last-mile outposts by e-commerce companies or as enterprise data centers for in-house use by hospitals or financial institutions. Jobs in these smaller centers can offer the first rung on the ladder to bigger jobs.

2. Innovative Solutions

Data center MEP contractors understand client needs and are equipped to propose creative workarounds. They need advanced technical proficiency — preferably in-house, but at least through strong partnerships —- in several areas, including:

Energy analysis: Data centers serve a single purpose — to keep thousands of servers running as much as 24/7/365, which can use quite a bit of energy for power and cooling.

Through in-house functions — or, perhaps more likely, partnerships with niche engineering firms specializing in data center energy analysis — MEP contractors gain the insights to suggest solutions for optimizing the efficiency of energy draws and cooling capabilities. 

Successful contractors zero in on the ultimate goal of every data center build — the schedule. Through awareness of trending and future equipment and practices, contractors contribute to optimizing jobsite efficiencies while still promising efficient systems that won’t be made obsolete quickly by the raging pace of technology. 

MEP contractors are absolutely bound to meet design specifications and be ready for commissioning by designated dates — no excuses.

My quality assurance starts before we ever mobilize for the job and we start thinking about the end date and working backwards from there to get everything in place so that when I get to that end date, I am done.

Quality assurance begins before mobilizing for the job, with pull planning that puts everything in place and prepares for all contingencies. Enhanced QA demands rigid testing and commissioning protocols, plus documented SOPs that are enforced strictly in the field.

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3. Collaborative Approaches

Strong collaboration and communication skills indicate a contractor clued into the goals of finishing on schedule and at the highest quality possible.

Key capabilities include:

• Concurrence

  Good collaboration leaves no room for egos, as stakeholders cooperate on scheduling concurrent activities and tasks. With their knowledge of data center needs, they might even risk small-contract purchase orders while projects are in design or waiting for regulatory approval. Working with others to have power and equipment needs ready to go from day one demonstrates the commitment of contractors to accelerate the schedule.

• Superior Project Management Skills

  Taking a data center job means accepting the owner’s immutable timeline or risking the financial and reputational penalties incurred by blowing past it. The typical timeline is a pressure-packed 18 to 36 months, demanding that contractors be adept at running activities concurrently, working out of sequence from regular practices, ganging jobs with additional people or the brightest talent, testing equipment long before commissioning to prevent delays and working around every obstacle.

• Inquisitive Discovery

  Successful data center MEP contractors ask questions that drill down to understanding a project’s every nuance. Expert contractors quiz owners to understand what they want and what matters most. The answers — whether priorities are schedule, operational efficiency or uptime — build trust by enabling the contractor to shape goal-driven recommendations and plans. 

• 4D BIM Capabilities

  4D BIM adds the fourth dimension of time to typical 3D modeling. The "fourth D" leverages the sequence of construction to indicate what the project will, or should, look like on a given date. With the knowledge of what will be in place and when, MEP contractors save time by preplanning jobs with existing installations in mind. 

4. Detailed Cost Breakdowns

Owners and engineers are the ones reviewing bids for signs of the contractors’ capabilities. They can find assurance in meticulous documentation and cost breakdowns.

Awareness of costs signals prowess at building data centers, comprehension of their complexities and assurance that discussions will proceed from a solid foundation of knowledge and innovation. 

And it's no secret: Costs matter on some projects. While the owners of hyperscale data centers usually prioritize state-of-the-art operations over dollars spent, others want cost effectiveness in the construction process and the completed structure. 

For contractors, providing detailed cost breakdowns showcases their expertise and grasp of project intricacies. This transparency reassures owners and engineers of the contractor's capabilities, facilitating discussions grounded in knowledge and innovation.

The Road to Winning More Data Center Bids

Data center bids are competitive and high-stakes. Getting a foothold demands a commitment to excellence, collaboration, continuous discovery and a hyper-focus on schedule. 

With a strategic approach to capacities, expertise and reputation, MEP contractors can find themselves and their services in demand for a critical growing sector.

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