Am I charging too much $. I bided on a Medical Facility in Milwaukee WI. It is 18,120.65 sq. Ft. 3 floors, total of 102 rooms. It has 51 office's, 40 rooms, 11 single restrooms. 17 hallways that = 2,417.35sq Ft service 5days a week nightly. Total Job Rate:12.6 hrs x 2 employees = 6hrs total.
Charges:: Monthly $17395.20 New Customer Initial Cleaning Fee:(One-time charge)$480.00

Hi Teach,

Good size medical building, congrats for getting to bid it.

Some questions:

Do you have written specifications for this building?

Of the 18,121 sq ft what percentage is carpet, VCT and other hard floors? Is this the 'cleanable sq footage? Or the overall size of the building?

Is there any floor work: carpet cleaning, striping and refinishing, etc? (If so, is this a part of the basic monthly price?)

Window cleaning?

Recycling? If so, what materials and how often do you pull?

And most importantly: Are you to handle the hazard waste (red bags, sharp containers, etc?)

May I ask how long you have been in the commercial cleaning business?

Also may I ask, have you cleaned medical before? Do you have a Hazardous Communication Program? This is very important for everyone's safety in that body fluids, contagions, cross contamination, staff and your own safety, etc are serious concerns. And are inspected by governmental agencies.

I think that the $484 for the initial cleaning is very low especially if you are doing the floor work in this cleaning.

I am a bit confused are you saying that the TOTAL man hours per day that you figured is 12 1/2 or 6?

In your totals above how many examination, procedure, treatment rooms are there? (Require more detailed cleaning.)

Is there any surgery taking place in this building?

Hopefully you are aware that medical cleaning is much more detailed and requires much more stringent regulations than regular cleaning of offices.

Please let me know when the bid is due Teach?

Please answer the above and we can go from there.

Stringer

Do you have written specifications for this building? No, Just basic everyday cleaning Is this the 'cleanable sq footage? yes! like dust,empty trash, vac, sweep, mop the basics.
Is there any floor work: carpet cleaning, striping and refinishing, etc? (If so, is this a part of the basic monthly price?)Window cleaning? No we bill separately.
Recycling? If so, what materials and how often do you pull? UNKNOWN.
And most importantly: Are you to handle the hazard waste (red bags, sharp containers, etc?)YES.
Have you cleaned medical before? YES,A place I worked in Atl.
Do you have a Hazardous Communication Program? This is very importantfor everyone's safety in that body fluids, contagions, cross contamination, staff and your own safety, etc are serious concerns. And are inspected by governmental agencies.
****NO, Can you help me. I have been getting calls to bid on medical latley.

Man hours per day that you figured is 12 1/2 or 6? ** 12 1/2 for 1 person
No surgery

Please let me know when the bid is due Teach?
Not sure! The Facility manager is very busy and after we did the measurements he said send it when I get it together. He really wants me to get it. I told him I need to ask a lot of questions. I'm waiting to meet with him again. We also need to separate sq ft of floor v/s carpet as you stated.
Again I don't want to over price, and I know he is going to ask me to about how much give or take.

Pricing is more important lately but quality, knowledge and value are still a big factor.

How long have you had this business Teach?

Find out what you don't know for this bid it is important not to be surprised financially.

I am glad that you have a good rapport with him that is always important. Do not under price this, you may be disappointed later.

Ask him if he has a budget because you would like to help an stay as close as possible. (don't be afraid to do this). Y(ou need to arrive at a medium for pricing that is good for both of you.

I am disappointed that there are no specs, they make everything clear for you and the prospect. I am hearing this way to often.

Starting with the pricing... (in the end this is your responsibility and final decision).

Usually I price the 'Initial Cleaning' at about 70% of one month's billing. This includes a top to bottom clean, detailed vacuuming and scrubbing and refinishing the VCT.

Go on line to thejanitorialstore,com (small charge to join) they have valuable info about cleaning health-care facilities. Then put together your own Hazardous communication Program for everyone's safety and also a good item to present to prospects that shows that you know what you are doing with medical cleaning.

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I told him I need to ask a lot of questions. I'm waiting to meet with him again.

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This is excellent Teach always keep the lines of communication open it shows that you care and want to do the best for HIM...

I would use two people at 6 hours each each night, this offers you more protection as one may not show one night and the other can take over. Also is under 8 hours per shift and thus O.T. is avoided.

Are personally going to clean this location?

Stringer

If this is a large corporation, the fee they are paying to the current firm may also be public info. Or it never hurts to ask

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Fr_Chuck

If this is a large corporation, the fee they are paying to the current firm may also be public info. Or it never hurts to ask

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Good point, especially if it is non-profit or community run.

Stringer

I just need to know if my bid is too high or is it fair. Yes I will use 2 employee's to clean. But the 12hrs I used it for labor pricing only. So is this a fair price for the size and labor hrs?

:0) Thanks so much for your help. I'm glad you stated the fact about asking about the budget, because I left him a voice mail asking him that.

Thanks..

Where would I find this info?

3 yrs. No cleaning for me, I handle all office work, biding & meetings etc... I have 15yrs exp in cleaning. I worked a cleaning business with a friend. He had the Costal States building in Atlanta. It had a YMCA, Dr. & Dentist Offices + more.

Ok... jumping to the finish;

If you are planning on bidding Monthly $17395.20 I feel that you are way too high.

Note: I would never add pennies to any proposal it may appear as unprofessional.

Sorry, in my desire to help I may have gotten carried away a bit with too much information.

And you can find the info that Chuck mentioned in the newspapers, government bid listings on line and by asking the prospect (profit or non-profit).

Ok thanks! This is what I need, Straight talk!

No! You didn't get carried away at all. So what you think would be your lowest amount for this size? Just give me a round about figure. This would be very helpful, please...

Again this is ONLY a suggestion.

$4,999.00 / month

That is about $0.25 / sq ft.

That is the best that anyone can get in the Chicago area for regular medical (not surgical) and In my opinion (and I have been doing this for almost 35 years) is more than enough and offers a very good profit stream.

You need to plan / systematize regulate the labor so that everyone knows exactly what they are to do to complete their nightly duties and then help the others when they are finished with their duties to ensure that everything is done properly. They should have time factors for each task.

Do your breakout pricing and you should see that I'm correct but decide what you want to do.

Stringer

Thank you Sir. You are truly a blessing! This is what God loves, for us to help one another. You have just helped a true faithful woman of God. I love you & God Bless you Sir.

Thank you Sir. You are truly a blessing! This is what God loves, for us to help one another. You have just helped a true faithful woman of God. I love you & God Bless you Sir. And your seed(FOREVER) I pray blessings over you! :0)