Going Bid Shopping: Can the contractor change subcontractors?

摘要

A common occurrence on construction projects is the practice known as 'bid shopping.' In this scenario, after award of the contract in a fixed price situation, the general contractor (GC) negotiates with the subcontractors to obtain lower prices, or substitutes lower-priced subcontractors for the ones originally listed, and pockets the difference. In addition to the possibility the owner will get inferior work from these cheaper subcontractors, the owner loses the benefit of the lower prices.