Welcome to our advice column where our estimators offer thoughtful answers to your questions on estimating. Go here to this form to submit an anonymous question.

When you're bidding a hot project and you need exact pricing for specific lighting fixtures, there really is no better way than going directly to the source. Here are three steps to help you do just that.

1. First, find the lighting schedule. This is usually in the final pages in your electrical drawing set. It will call out the acronym tag or symbol and call out the manufacturer/model.
   
2. Second, use your electrical floor plan and count each distinct lighting type. Each light usually has a different acronym tag, so count each S1, S2, F1, F8, etc. separately!
   
3. Finally, locate a major lighting vendor in your area and send an RFQ. Email them your counts, electrical schedule, and request for quote (RFQ). This is daily work for the vendors, so your RFQs are potential business for them—a win-win.
   
   Building a price quote takes time, so the vendor may take a couple days to get back to you. But when they respond, you’ll have the exact price to purchase those specific lighting fixtures! Apply your markup and labor costs, and you’re all set.

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