Engineering & Design Services — Ready Technical and Financial Proposal Template (with BIM, 30/60/90% milestones, and Local Content)

This is a guidance template showing the complete structure of a technical proposal for engineering & design services tenders — each item has a brief explanation of what to write and why bid evaluators care. Built on the unified Saudi RFP for engineering services, following the methodology of the Expenditure & Projects Authority (EPMA), with design review milestones (30%/60%/90%), BIM requirements, and Local Content.

1. Technical Proposal Cover Page

Item	Guidance
Tender Name	Write the full name (e.g. architectural and engineering design services for building …, or engineering supervision for project …).
Tender Number	The number on the RFP cover.
Government Entity + Department	Official name + projects/engineering department.
Bidding Company	Commercial name + registration number + activity (must include engineering consulting services).
Submission Date	Hijri + Gregorian.
Bid Validity	90 days.

2. Executive Summary

Guidance: 4–6 lines summarizing: project nature (design/supervision/studies), engineering disciplines included, BIM methodology adopted, foreign/local expert ratio, your commitment to review milestones (30/60/90%), targeted local content and localization rates.

3. Company Overview

Field	Guidance
Commercial name + registration + activity	Must include: engineering consulting office / design.
Year of establishment + capital	≥ 10 years in engineering consulting strengthens technical ranking.
Ministry of Municipal & Rural Affairs and Housing classification	Grade + disciplines (architectural, structural, electrical, mechanical).
Saudi Council of Engineers membership	Mandatory: valid affiliation certificate for the office and key engineers.
Certifications	ISO 9001 (Quality), ISO 14001 (Environment), ISO 45001 (Safety), BIM Level 2/3 accreditation.
Number of engineers and designers	State the total classified by specialization + localization rate.
Branches and offices	An office near the project site is a strong advantage.

4. Past Experience in Similar Engineering Projects

Guidance: 3–5 projects similar in size and discipline (design/supervision). Attach official completion certificates and photos of executed projects.

Project Name	Owning Entity	Work Nature	Building Type	Area (m²)	Contract Value	Completion Year
Example: Maternity & pediatric hospital design	Ministry of Health	Integrated design + supervision	200-bed hospital	22,000	8.5M SAR	2024
Add a row for each project	—	—	—	—	—	—

5. Scope of Work Understanding

Guidance: Explain in detail the scope items in the RFP. Engineering services typically span multiple disciplines — clarify which ones are included.

5.1 Engineering Disciplines Included

Discipline	Scope of Work
Architectural	Facade design, interior layout, finishes, doors and windows.
Civil	Site plan, internal roads, excavation and backfill, sidewalks.
Structural	Foundations, concrete/steel structures, seismic analysis.
Geotechnical	Boreholes, soil testing, foundation recommendations.
Electrical	Transformers, cables, grounding, distribution panels, lighting.
Mechanical	HVAC, plumbing, drainage, fire fighting.
Extra-low voltage (ELV)	BMS, IT, security systems, fire detection (FDAS).
Environmental disciplines	Environmental studies, sustainability, LEED accreditation if requested.

6. Design Services Execution Methodology

6.1 Design Phases and Reviews

Mandatory guidance: Per the Expenditure & Projects Authority methodology, design deliverables undergo formal review at 3 main milestones. Committees disqualify bids that don't clearly state these phases.

Phase	Deliverables	Required Approval
30% Schematic Design	Overall concept, mass planning, initial cost estimates, basis of design.	Government entity
60% Design Development	Detailed system design, BIM model, preliminary engineering calculations.	Entity + relevant authorities (SEC, NWC, MOT)
90% Final Design	Complete construction drawings (IFC), standard specifications, BOQ, deliverables list.	Entity + relevant authorities
100% IFC (Issued For Construction)	Final approval of all drawings + key engineer signatures.	—

6.2 Architectural & Engineering Design Services

• Research, data collection and verification (site data, prior studies).
• Design concept and master planning support.
• Preliminary and detailed cost estimates for various phases and options.
• Basis of Design reports, design criteria, specifications.
• 3D modeling (BIM) + tender document preparation for procurement/installation.
• Calculations, reports, and detailed construction drawings for all disciplines.
• Value Engineering on request.
• Implementation of an engineering deliverables management system on Earned Value Methodology (EVM).

6.3 Site Investigation Services

• Site visit and inspection: entrances, boundaries, interferences.
• Topographic survey.
• Underground and above-ground utility mapping.
• Geotechnical data review (boreholes) and request for additional tests if needed.

6.4 Specialized Studies

Study	Purpose
Feasibility studies	Economic and technical assessment before design.
Master planning and space programming	Identify functional space needs.
Traffic analysis	For high-traffic-density sites.
Seismic analysis	Per Saudi Building Code SBC 301.
Environmental studies	Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).
Acoustic studies	For mosques, theaters, conference halls.
Fire safety reports	Per Saudi Building Code SBC 801.
Energy consumption estimates	Energy study + LEED accreditation potential.

6.5 Support During Construction Tendering & Execution

• Respond to bidder technical inquiries during construction tendering.
• Issue addenda for technical specification documents.
• Review and approve contractor/supplier submissions (Material Approval Requests, Shop Drawings).
• Respond to RFIs from the site.
• Attend Factory Acceptance Tests (FAT).
• Review design change requests (FCDs) during construction.

6.6 Building Information Modeling (BIM)

Level	Requirements
BIM Level 2	3D models for each discipline + Clash Detection coordination via Navisworks.
BIM Execution Plan (BEP)	Separate document delivered at project start.
Model deliverables	Original Revit/Civil 3D files + Federated Models.
Ownership transfer	All BIM/CAD files transfer ownership to the entity at IFC delivery per the RFP terms.

7. Work Split Between Foreign Experts and Local Resources

Mandatory guidance: Per the RFP, design work is split in a specific ratio:

Group	Share	Work
Foreign experts (E1)	20%	Engineering management, standards development, calculation review, approval of key construction deliverables (IFC).
Local architects/engineers (E2/E3)	80%	Site inspection, CAD work, calculation preparation, inter-discipline coordination, coordination with authorities.

7.1 Personnel Classification by Country of Education and Experience

Classification	Country
E1	USA, Australia, Canada, Europe (excluding Eastern), New Zealand, South Africa.
E2	Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (citizens only).
E3	Other countries.

8. Hiring Saudi Fresh Graduates

Mandatory: The contractor must annually hire 5 fresh graduates + 5 entry-level (2-5 years experience). Wage payment proof may be requested at any time.

Group	Annual Minimum	Suggested Roles
Fresh graduates	5	Assistant engineer, CAD assistant, BIM assistant, TQ assistant.
Entry-level (2–5 years experience)	5	CAD engineer, BIM engineer, cost analyst.

9. Schedule (Gantt Chart)

Phase	Month 1	Month 2	Month 3	Month 4	Month 5	Month 6
Mobilization + site receipt	█
Field investigation and studies	█	█
30% design (Schematic)		█	█
Review + 60% design (DD)				█
Review + 90% design					█
IFC delivery + project closeout						█

Guidance: Within 30 days of site receipt, must submit a detailed schedule in Primavera or MS Project format showing all activities per the RFP service program.

10. Project Organizational Structure — Mandatory Specifications

The RFP requires minimum experience for each key position:

Position	Mandatory Experience	Minimum Qualification
Project Manager (engineer)	15 years construction work + 10 years supervision + 3 years locally with leadership personality.	BSc Engineering + PMP.
Deputy PM	8 years consulting + 5 years supervision.	BSc Civil Engineering.
Lead Architect	10 years + BIM experience.	BSc Architecture.
Lead Structural Engineer	10 years + seismic analysis experience.	BSc Civil/Structural Engineering.
Lead Electrical Engineer	10 years + SEC accreditation.	BSc Electrical Engineering.
Lead Mechanical Engineer (HVAC)	10 years HVAC design.	BSc Mechanical Engineering.
Geotechnical Engineer	8 years soil investigation.	BSc Civil Engineering + geotechnical specialization.
BIM Manager	5 years + Revit/Navisworks accreditation.	BSc + BIM certificate.
QA/QC Manager	7 years + ISO 9001 Lead Auditor.	BSc Engineering + Lead Auditor.
HSE Engineer	5 years + NEBOSH/OSHA.	BSc + safety certification.

Additional guidance: The PM and department managers must have worked for the contractor for at least 5 years. Senior managers and professionals: at least 3 years.

11. Key Personnel CVs

Guidance: Attach a CV for each lead engineer (10+ positions), including: qualifications + professional certifications + key projects executed + valid Saudi Council of Engineers affiliation certificate.

12. Coordination with Government Entities

Entity	Required Approvals
Saudi Electricity Company (SEC)	Approval of electrical drawings + connections + transformers.
National Water Company (NWC)	Approval of water and sewage connections.
Ministry of Transport (MOT)	Approval of traffic entrances and exits.
Ministry of Environment (MEWA)	Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) + environmental permits.
Ministry of Communications (MCIT)	Approval of communications infrastructure.
Civil Defense	Safety license approval + firefighting systems.
Saudi Standards Authority (SASO)	Specifications conformity verification.
Municipality / Amana	Building license.

13. Design Software Used

Category	Suggested Software
Architectural design + BIM	Autodesk Revit / ArchiCAD.
Structural analysis	SAP2000 / ETABS / Tekla Structures.
Civil and roads	Civil 3D / InfraWorks.
Electrical systems	AutoCAD Electrical / Dialux (lighting).
HVAC and mechanical	Revit MEP / HAP (Hourly Analysis Program).
Coordination and clash detection	Navisworks Manage.
Scheduling and project management	Primavera P6 / MS Project.
Document management (ECMS)	Aconex / SharePoint / Procore.

14. Quality Assurance Plan (QA/QC)

• Apply ISO 9001 + ISO 19650 (BIM information management).
• Mandatory checklists for each design phase.
• Mandatory internal review before any deliverable submission.
• Monthly clash detection coordination via Navisworks.
• Monthly QA reports to entity.

15. Health & Safety Plan (HSE)

Hazard	Measure
Unsafe site visits	PPE + comprehensive insurance.
Office strain	Ergonomics rules + regular breaks.
Risks of work in existing buildings	Coordinate with site security management.
Engineering information security	File encryption + NDA for all engineers.

16. Risk Management Plan

Risk	Mitigation
Entity deliverable approval delays	Weekly meetings + reminder memos before due dates.
SEC/NWC approval delays	Submit drawings early + periodic follow-up.
Scope changes	Log every change via approved Change Order.
Discovery of unforeseen site conditions	Reassessment + design update.
Loss of key engineer	Detailed documentation + backup engineer nominee.

17. Training & Knowledge Transfer Plan

Program	Target Group
On-Job Training (OJT)	Government entity team
Workshops on adopted design methodology	Entity engineers
Training on using delivered BIM models	Operations phase operators
Operations & Maintenance manuals (O&M)	Deliver paper + electronic copy

18. Performance Indicators (KPIs)

KPI	Target
30%/60%/90% delivery date compliance	100%
Number of clashes in final model	0 critical
Number of redesign requests after IFC	≤ 5%
RFI response time	≤ 3 working days
Project budget compliance	± 5% of initial estimate
Government entity satisfaction	≥ 90%

19. Local Content Compliance (Mandatory)

Item	Value
Establishment-level baseline	… %
Minimum required in the RFP	… %
Targeted percentage in contract	… %
How you'll achieve it	Localize design teams 80% (E2), use national branch offices, contract with national service providers for boreholes and lab tests

Severe penalties:

• Failure to give preference to national products = 30% penalty of the procurement value of the violation.
• Failure to achieve targeted percentage = penalty up to 10% of contract value.

20. Deliverables Ownership

Guidance: All BIM/CAD files and databases transfer full ownership to the entity at IFC delivery. Confirm this commitment in your bid.

21. Attached Documents

• Commercial registration + Ministry of Municipal & Rural Affairs and Housing classification.
• Saudi Council of Engineers affiliation certificate (mandatory for engineering work) for the office and key engineers.
• ISO 9001 / 14001 / 45001 certificates + BIM accreditation.
• Local Content Authority certificate + baseline.
• Past similar engineering project completion certificates + photos.
• Full CVs for key personnel + their professional certifications.
• Approved design software list + their licenses.
• Bid submission letter.
• Local content commitment template.

Guidance financial proposal template for engineering & design services tenders — explaining each item with realistic Saudi market price ranges. Reference prices that must be based on a real study for your company, considering project nature and complexity.

Important notice: The RFP states that bids priced 25% or more below the estimated cost may be excluded after verification. Do not submit a suspiciously low price.

1. Financial Proposal Cover Page

Item	Guidance
Total before tax	Numbers and words.
VAT 15%	—
Total including tax	The figure used in evaluation.
Man-Day rate	If pricing on effort basis.
Bid validity period	90 days.

2. Financial Summary by Items

Item	Value (SAR)	%
Engineering staff costs	…	Typically 60–75% (largest)
Specialized studies (Sub-consultants)	…	5–15%
Design software and licenses	…	3–6%
Lab and borehole tests	…	3–8%
Indirect expenses	…	8–12%
Profit margin	…	10–18%
Total before tax	…	100%

3. Detailed Engineering Staff Costs

Guidance: Man-Day rates for engineering consulting in Saudi Arabia vary by experience and nationality (E1/E2/E3 classification):

Position	Class	Count	Day rate (SAR)	Days	Total
Project Manager (PM)	E1/E2	1	4,500–7,000	…	…
Deputy PM	E2/E3	1	3,500–5,000	…	…
Lead Architect	E1/E2	1	3,500–5,500	…	…
Lead Structural Engineer	E1/E2	1	3,500–5,500	…	…
Lead Electrical Engineer	E2/E3	1	2,800–4,500	…	…
Mechanical Engineer (HVAC)	E2/E3	1	2,800–4,500	…	…
ELV / FDAS Engineer	E2/E3	1	2,500–4,000	…	…
Geotechnical Engineer	E2	1	2,500–4,000	…	…
BIM Manager	E2/E3	1	2,500–4,000	…	…
CAD/BIM engineers	E2/E3	3–6	1,200–2,200	…	…
Quantity Surveyor (QS)	E2/E3	1–2	1,800–3,000	…	…
QA/QC Manager	E2/E3	1	2,800–4,500	…	…
HSE Engineer	E2	1	2,200–3,500	…	…
Saudi fresh graduate engineers (mandatory 5)	E2	5	700–1,200	…	…
Entry-level engineers (mandatory 5)	E2	5	1,000–1,800	…	…
Engineering Staff Total					…

4. Specialized Studies Costs (Sub-consultants)

Study	Expected Cost (SAR)
Geotechnical Investigation	30,000–250,000 site-dependent
Topographic Survey	15,000–80,000
Seismic Analysis	20,000–80,000
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)	50,000–250,000
Energy studies + LEED (if applicable)	40,000–180,000
Acoustic Studies	30,000–120,000
Fire Safety Reports	25,000–100,000
Traffic Study	40,000–150,000

5. Design Software & Licenses

License	Expected Annual Cost (SAR)
Autodesk AEC Collection (Revit + AutoCAD + Civil 3D + Navisworks)	10,000–14,000 / user
SAP2000 / ETABS	20,000–40,000 / license
Tekla Structures	30,000–60,000 / license
Primavera P6	15,000–25,000 / license
Aconex / document management	8,000–20,000 / user
Dialux + lighting software	Free (basic edition)

6. Lab & Field Tests

Test	Expected Cost
Soil tests (per borehole)	3,000–8,000 SAR
Concrete quality test	500–1,500 per sample
Asphalt quality test	800–2,000 per sample
Water and drainage testing	1,500–4,000

7. Indirect Expenses

Item	Value (SAR)
Office and studio rent	…
Utilities + business internet + cloud storage for models	…
Staff insurance + Professional Indemnity	… (mandatory for consultants)
Third-party liability insurance	…
Travel and site visits	…
Drawing printing + photography + copying	…
Government licenses + authority affiliations	…
Training + staff certifications	…
Bank guarantees	…
General administrative expenses	…

8. Profit Margin + Total + Tax

Statement	Value (SAR)
Costs + profit margin (10–18%)	…
Total before tax	…
VAT 15%	…
Total including tax	…

9. Proposed Payment Schedule (Tied to Design Phases)

Guidance: Design contract payments are typically tied to deliverable approval milestones.

Payment	Timing	%
Advance payment	On signing	10% (against guarantee)
30% Schematic payment	On 30% design approval	20%
60% DD payment	On 60% design approval	25%
90% Final payment	On 90% design approval	20%
IFC payment	On final drawings delivery	15%
Final payment	After project closeout + construction support	10%

10. Guarantees

Guarantee	%	Duration
Initial guarantee	1–2%	Until award
Final guarantee	5%	Throughout contract
Professional Indemnity (PI Insurance)	Typically 10–25% of contract value	Throughout contract + 2 years post-delivery

11. Local Content Calculations

Item	Value
Total bid value	…
Citizen staff value + local services	…
Foreign expert value (E1) + external consultants	…
Computed local content %	… %

60/40 evaluation formula per the RFP evaluation criteria:

Evaluation = (lowest bid price ÷ bid price) × 60% + (targeted local content × 50% + baseline × 50% + 5% for listed company) × 40%

Important: For engineering consulting services that need high technical capability, the RFP gives higher weight to technical criteria — price isn't the only consideration; staff and methodology quality outweigh.

12. Penalties for Non-Compliance

Violation	Penalty
Failure to give preference to national products	30% penalty of the procurement value of the violation
Failure to achieve targeted local content	Penalty up to 10% of contract value
Late delivery	Delay penalties per the RFP terms
Total penalties	Capped at 20% of contract value

13. Notes & Financial Conditions

• Prices include all costs (design, modeling, testing, coordination, approvals).
• Prices fixed throughout the contract.
• Any scope change priced via approved Change Order.
• Additional site visits beyond agreed scope are billed separately.
• We commit to transferring ownership of all BIM/CAD files to the entity at IFC delivery per the RFP terms, at no additional cost.

How to use this template?

1. Read the full RFP — especially the scope of services, team specifications, and local content sections.
2. Review the National Project Management Body (MPWB) from the Expenditure & Projects Authority — it contains the engineering deliverables checklists.
3. Comply with the formal review milestones 30%/60%/90% in your schedule — bypassing them = exclusion.
4. Attach the Saudi Council of Engineers affiliation certificate (mandatory for engineering work).
5. Comply with the 20% foreign / 80% local resource split.
6. Allocate budget to hire 5 fresh graduates + 5 entry-level Saudis annually (mandatory).

Top reasons engineering bids get disqualified

• Missing Saudi Council of Engineers affiliation certificate.
• No project manager with 15 years experience + 3 in Saudi Arabia.
• Lack of BIM Execution Plan (BEP).
• Ignoring formal review milestones (30%/60%/90%).
• Lack of foreign experts (E1) for leadership work.
• Failure to comply with hiring 5 graduates + 5 Saudi entry-level engineers.
• Bid priced 25% or more below estimated cost.
• Missing approved design software list.

Why use Ataa AI?

This template is reference material — but Ataa AI generates a complete, content-filled technical & financial proposal for engineering services tenders with staff specializations identified, design phases detailed, and local content & price preference calculations — all in 5 minutes.

Notice: Engineering services determine the quality of facilities for long contract durations. Any design error can cause exorbitant costs at construction. Comply with the highest quality standards and attach a detailed CV for every key engineer.