Procurement for Multi-Unit Light Steel Frame Housing

Multi-unit housing changes procurement in three ways: quantity (so ordering is by phase), repetition (so a small error is multiplied) and documentation (funders, inspectors and insurers all want records).

Step 1: Define unit types

List each unit type, the count of each, and a bill of quantities per type, tied to drawings. A mistake in a unit that is repeated 40 times costs 40 times as much. Start from preparing drawings for a framing quotation.

Step 2: Choose a package structure

• Supply only: you or your contractor erect; you take installation risk.
• Supply and install: one party owns shell delivery.
• Single supplier vs several: see single vs multiple supplier procurement.

Step 3: Write the RFQ

Use the RFQ builder. For multi-unit work add: delivery phases with dates, storage assumptions, who unloads, and what happens if a later phase is delayed.

Step 4: Compare like for like

Use the framing package quote comparison template and the quotation comparison guide. Include delivered cost, not factory price only.

Step 5: Control the documents

Keep certificates, test reports and drawings per phase. See how to organize product documentation.

Where Digital Oro fits

For a multi-unit order, the catalog is where you check the specification, and the quotation is where you fix the commercial terms. Digital Oro International lists light steel frame in its material catalog: structural frame in AS1397 G550 AZ150 steel (0.75 or 0.95 mm), available in Australian or American standards, plus wall frames with glass wool, 89 mm x 41 mm pre-assembled floor joists, roof trusses and subfloor systems. See the light steel frame catalog page and the full catalog map. The catalog gives specifications only. It does not give prices, lead times, stock or project references, so none are stated here.

Ask Digital Oro in writing: how a multi-unit order is priced and phased; what the minimum order is; what is included in the framing package; whether the same steel grade and coating certificates apply to every phase; and who takes responsibility for shortages or damage on delivery.

This guide is general information, not engineering, legal or financial advice. Codes, loads and approvals vary by site; the engineer of record and the local authority decide what your building needs.

Questions people ask

Should I buy all units in one order?

Often a master order with phased deliveries is simpler to price, but it ties cash and storage. Decide with your contractor and lender.

What goes in the RFQ?

Unit types and counts, a bill of quantities per type, delivery phases, documents required and judging criteria.

Should materials be supplied separately from installation?

It is a choice between supply-only, supply and install, and design-build. Each splits risk differently.

What is a framing package?

A priced scope covering the steel frame components for a unit or building. See the framing package comparison template.

Sources and further reading

• NAHB
• ASTM International
• U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

Text Digital Oro

Digital Oro International advertises on The Company Chronicle. This guide was written by our editorial team from public sources and general professional practice; it does not describe a guarantee, quote or offer from Digital Oro International. Confirm current terms, prices and availability with the operator before you decide.