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Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Far above all principalities and powers. Nigeria
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110Km 330KV Transmission Line and Substation Project Site Visit

01/28/2011 6:28 AM

Hello All, I am a trainee electrical engineer, I have just been assigned to represent my company on a site visit organized by the Client on a project in which we are bidding. The reason because, all our senior engineers will be unavailable during the period of the site visit. The Project involves procurement of materials, construction of 2 330KV substations, erection and stringing of the lines, testing, commissioning and training. Sincerely I have not done a job like this before, Can anyone please help me on the things I should look out for during the site visit, what would be expected of me as an electrical engineer and what and what to document in my report. I look forward to your responses.

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#1

Re: 110Km 330KV Transmission Line and Substation Project Site Visit

01/28/2011 7:16 AM

It is unfair to put someone claiming to be a trainee on a task as big and commercially important as this.

  • What are the prospects of taking someone else?
  • What are the implications of sharing the apprehension with someone up the reporting ladder, preferably with the individual that is doing the assigning?
  • What are the chances of delaying the visit until someone with more experience is able to go along too?

The visit needs to be seen as an opportunity to learn from others.

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#2
In reply to #1

Re: 110Km 330KV Transmission Line and Substation Project Site Visit

01/28/2011 10:06 AM

Thanks so much to understand with me. There are no prospects of taking someone else to the best of my knowledge Sharing the apprehension would make me look so inexperienced as an engineer (please take note that my company just delved into the engineering business from purely procurement) The dates for the visit have been fixed by the clients and they have restricted the no of participants per company visiting to two, I have been nominated with the Tendering/Contracts manager who has no engineering background.

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#4
In reply to #2

Re: 110Km 330KV Transmission Line and Substation Project Site Visit

01/28/2011 11:09 AM

The company doesn't deserve the work, then, as the infrastructure needed to tender and execute the work isn't there in sufficient quantity.

For goodness' sake don't name the company here!

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#3

Re: 110Km 330KV Transmission Line and Substation Project Site Visit

01/28/2011 10:50 AM

To be honest your company are acting like fools. I mean no disrespect to you, you have the sense to realise your limitations.

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#8
In reply to #3

Re: 110Km 330KV Transmission Line and Substation Project Site Visit

01/29/2011 7:39 AM

I will add that I hope if your company get the contract they recognise your contribution given the little support they have given you.

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#5

Re: 110Km 330KV Transmission Line and Substation Project Site Visit

01/28/2011 4:00 PM

All of the good advice above having been said, it is a pre-bid meeting, correct?

I offer the following having started my present position by being "thrown under the bus" (a little humor) 22 years ago;

Be prepared and be professional-pay attention, take detailed notes and pictures (if pictures are permitted).

Things to bring:

Hard hat and safety glasses (if required)

Project drawings and specifications if previously issued. Don't show up with 100lbs of drawings. Review them prior to the pre-bid and select the drawings you will need. Example, site drawing, yard drawing, cable schedule, equipment schedule, ect.

Business cards to hand out to the client personnel.

Note pad and pencil.

Laser or wheel measure.

If you don't fully understand the project, that's OK at this point. Do not feel that you have to ask a lot of questions at the pre-bid (thus making you appear to be in-experienced).

Listen to the questions the other bidders are asking. Again, pay attention and take detailed notes. Your bosses can issue an RFI (request for information) to get their questions answered later on in the bid process.

Lastly, try and be inconspicuous and get the company names of your competitors. Your bosses will appreciate this (always good to know who you are bidding against).

This is not everything that you will ever need for a bid meeting but this is a good, non-overwhelming start and this experience will be an educational one for you.

May the wind be at your back brother - you will do just fine.

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#6

Re: 110Km 330KV Transmission Line and Substation Project Site Visit

01/28/2011 11:26 PM

Site visit is a part of tendering process. During site visit you can physically inspect the site and interact with other agencies who are at site. Before you visit site read out the technical specifications and note down the points you need to clarify at site. You can make your own format based on your technical understanding of the specifications. Pre bid tender is another stage where you can get clarifications from the client, consultant about all your techno- commercial details to submit your competitive offer.

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#7

Re: 110Km 330KV Transmission Line and Substation Project Site Visit

01/28/2011 11:44 PM

From the Client's prospective they want to familiarize the bidders with the site conditions (Looks like a pretty remote site).

From your company's prospective which is ready to bid for the project, anything worth of interest is already there in the project BOQ, drawings and specifications. Realize that you have been selected for the assignment to show the Client that they are interested, any engineering skills at present on your part would be a secondary requirement.

But since you are representing your company and what you need to do is:

(a) You have to ascertain difficulties (ultimately the cost impact) in transporting to the remote project site; tools & plant, manpower, river crossings, water level etc.

(b) Right of way problems, local rules, opportunities for providing job to the local people (usually it is laborers and mostly required by local laws), accommodation and sanitation for the resident staff.

(c) Note down the names and contacts of Client's staff and try to create a bond (lobby).

(d)Have knowledge of the strengths of your company, what similar projects they have executed, what type of expertise and specialized equipment your company has got - Look for the opportunity to create an impact on the Client and create future links.

(d) PR is important, arrange gifts for the Client in the form of calenders & diaries from your company.

I think you are the right person to do the job. This is an opportunity for you to make in impact, do write a report at the end of the assignment to your employers with some useful tips for the sake of business.

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#9

Re: 110Km 330KV Transmission Line and Substation Project Site Visit

01/29/2011 10:51 PM

Thanks so much every one, I have taken note of these things and would act on them. I wish myself the best.

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Guru

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#10

Re: 110Km 330KV Transmission Line and Substation Project Site Visit

01/31/2011 9:41 AM

Also, ask one of the senior engineers to give you a briefing of what he would do if he were to attend the site visit. Your colleagues should be willing to help prepare you for the task. Ask what information they would want to have, what questions they would ask, and how they would prepare for the visit. Part of their job as senior engineers should be to impart their knowledge and experience to the junior members of the staff.

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#11

Re: 110Km 330KV Transmission Line and Substation Project Site Visit

02/03/2011 1:32 AM

PeterT has some good advice. Since you have Sr. Engineers available, ask them. It reminds me of my first Field Engineering chore I got after I got out of college. I was not too sure about what I was doing, but I found the problem and got the customer happy. We were a small company, and didn't even have a field engineering department. I was in production test, but I was available.

I also suspect that you have the chore "to get your feet wet" in the real world. It is quite different from Academia.

Best of luck...

Bill

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