Do you charge for value engineering review?

If we are bidding the work, the VE review is part of the proposal and there is no separate fee. If we are doing a second-opinion review for a GC or owner, we charge a fixed engineering fee that is disclosed up front.

Will the building still be code compliant?

Yes. Every alternate we propose holds against current NYC and applicable state codes. We will not propose a savings that compromises code compliance.

Can you redesign for LED retrofit specifically?

Yes. LED retrofit and lighting redesign is one of the most common VE moves we make on existing buildings. We will model the savings, the rebate eligibility, and the payback before recommending the change.

06Project & Infrastructure

Electrical Value Engineering Estimating and LED Retrofits

Scope and budget optimization for projects that came in over budget. We rework the electrical package without giving up the building you set out to build.

Or call us directly(212) 765-3888

Overview

Value engineering is what we do when a project is real but the bid came back too high. It is not bidding for less. It is rebuilding the electrical package so the cost lands inside the budget without giving up function, code compliance, or quality.

We do this on projects we are bidding ourselves and on projects where another contractor is in place but the GC needs a second set of eyes. The work usually starts with a one-day review of the drawings, the spec, and the existing estimate. From there, we identify the line items that are driving cost, propose alternates, and document the trade-offs.

The team that owns this work is led by our Director of Estimating, Inna Yakobson, with twenty five years of electrical estimating experience and an electrical engineering background. The team includes estimators, BIM coordinators, and project managers who have built the kinds of buildings on the prints in front of them. That combination is why our value engineering memos read like a real engineering review and not a list of cheaper substitutions.

What we do

Scope and capabilities.

01Estimating review and second-opinion bids
02Scope rebalancing across electrical, fire alarm, and low voltage
03LED retrofit alternatives, lighting redesign, and efficiency upgrades
04Panel upgrades and capacity rework when reuse is cheaper than rip-and-replace
05Cost-effective design alternatives that hold code
06Long-lead and supply chain optimization
07Constructability reviews for difficult site conditions
08Pre-construction planning and phasing memos
09Documented trade-off analysis for the owner

Who calls us

Who this is for.

Owners and developers whose project came in over budget
General contractors needing a second-opinion electrical bid
Architects redesigning a stalled project
Owner reps trying to deliver a building inside a fixed budget

Planning your enquiry

What to share with our team.

Send what you have available. These details help us understand the site, define the scope, and identify the next step.

Service calls and maintenance cover New York and New Jersey. South Florida enquiries are for project work.

Provide the current drawings, specifications, estimate, and the particular costs or scope items you want reviewed.
Identify requirements that must remain, including performance, finish, controls, and owner standards.
For lighting work, share fixture quantities, operating hours, and available information about the existing system.
Tell us the budget target, decision deadline, and who must approve alternatives. Any proposed savings need a defined baseline and agreed scope.

How it goes

Four steps. No surprises.

Every value engineering engagement runs the same way. We document the work, we document the cost, and we leave a clean record so you can pick up the file at any point and know what is happening.

Step 01Drawings and spec review
Send the bid set and the existing estimate. Our team reviews the drawings, the spec, and the cost basis to find the line items that are driving the budget over.
01
Step 02Alternates memo
Within five to ten business days, we deliver a written memo with proposed alternates, expected savings, and a clear note on what changes and what does not. Each alternate has a code-compliance and quality note.
02
Step 03Owner workshop
We sit with the owner and the GC, walk the memo, and let the owner decide which alternates are acceptable. Some VE moves are quiet. Others change the building. We are clear about which is which.
03
Step 04Updated bid
If we are bidding the work, we issue a revised proposal reflecting the accepted alternates. If another contractor is in place, we hand the memo to the GC and the owner so they can negotiate from a real engineering position.
04

Common questions

Asked and answered.

01
Do you charge for value engineering review?
If we are bidding the work, the VE review is part of the proposal and there is no separate fee. If we are doing a second-opinion review for a GC or owner, we charge a fixed engineering fee that is disclosed up front.
02
Will the building still be code compliant?
Yes. Every alternate we propose holds against current NYC and applicable state codes. We will not propose a savings that compromises code compliance.
03
Can you redesign for LED retrofit specifically?
Yes. LED retrofit and lighting redesign is one of the most common VE moves we make on existing buildings. We will model the savings, the rebate eligibility, and the payback before recommending the change.

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Ready to send us a bid set?

(212) 765-3888