Mechanical and HVAC work on public buildings is built to ASHRAE energy and design standards, and an HVAC subcontractor that does not read the energy and equipment requirements on a package is pricing the wrong system.
What ASHRAE 90.1 sets on a mechanical package
ASHRAE Standard 90.1, the energy standard for buildings, sets minimum efficiency and design requirements for HVAC equipment, ductwork, and controls, and it is referenced by the energy code and the Division 23 mechanical specifications. A mechanical package uses ASHRAE 90.1 and the project specifications to set equipment efficiencies, economizer and ventilation requirements, and controls. The energy basis and the equipment selection drive the cost.
Why mechanical scope is easy to misprice
The efficiency requirements, the equipment selections, the ductwork, and the controls sit across the Division 23 specifications and the drawings, not the title. A sub that assumes standard equipment can miss a high efficiency requirement, an economizer, or a controls scope that changes the cost.
How an AI bid agent reads mechanical packages
An AI bid agent reads each mechanical solicitation or sub package, identifies the ASHRAE 90.1 and Division 23 provisions, and surfaces the equipment, the efficiency requirements, and the controls that drive the work. The HVAC sub prices the actual system.
You can see how the agent reads a mechanical package in our AI bid agent demo for MEP subcontractors. It pulls the ASHRAE 90.1 and Division 23 provisions so the system is priced correctly.