The American Subcontractors Association (ASA), headquartered in Alexandria, Va., has created a new tool designed to help subcontractors, including glazing contractors, improve their "negotiating power." The organization has developed the ASA Subcontractor Bid Proposal (2005) that it says will help subcontractors "level the playing field" when it comes to negotiating contracts in a straightforward manner: conditioning bids.

ASA says the two-page document will help subcontractors define the work's scope, price and bid conditions so that the general contractor's acceptance of the proposal includes the subcontractor's terms and conditions as well.

"The best estimators are already aware that job costs are premised upon a certain level of risk, whether or not the bid actually states that level," said Vincent Terraferma, P.E., president of ASA. "ASA's Subcontractor Bid Proposal helps subcontractors make explicit the level of risk that their prices are conditioned upon. Every contract term is a job cost and with ASA's Subcontractor Bid Proposal, subcontractors can offer a price that accounts for all the variables."

The ASA Subcontractor Bid Proposal comes with instructions that explain how to modify and attach documents to the bid proposal, which ensures bids are defined properly.

It is licensed for use by current ASA members. Members can download copies from the members only section of the ASA website, www.asaonline.com, on the member resource page.