Quotation for a system

[angelica]

Hi,

Im currently doing my dissertatin which includes building up a system. Ive been requested by a small governmental company to do a stock control system and I accpeted making this also my dissertation project which their permission.

Now I after making my analysis and desigining I need to present the Director with a quotation or pricing list. Ive never done this sort of thing before and dont know exactly what it involves or what I should include.

The system is to be built in VB.net and SQL server driven. It consists of about 14 tables and over 30 use cases. I dont know if these are the basics to set up the quote on.

Also I dont know how to word any conditions that are important to safe guard my position in software development especially since the company is a governmental body.

I was searching on the internet for such advice but couldnt find any. Can any one give me good guidelines and advice. Much appreciated

[DirtyHowi]

the screen design is the longest, and simplest thing in the project, for each 4 hours or so placing controls you'll spend roughly 1.5 (ish) writing the object, table, sp's etc. (maybe more maybe less depending on what's on the screen).

i charge 37.50 an hour for screen design, and 75 per hour for coding (screen design is easy, just monotaneous), i figure about how many screens and then it's simple math, 4 screens 600USD, 350USD or so for code, 100USD for debug/client install/stuff that you missed :D etc.

works out pretty well, i have most of the base/root objects written already, so it's fast enough now to actually come in below budget time wise and leave a bit of a bonus for ol howi now :D of course YMMV and since it's your first project you may want to sell em low.

[angelica]

hi HOwi,


Thanks for your info. have you ever had to put up an agreement on the maintenance, liability, etc with the client. My client is a governemental organisation so everything has to be written down and documented or else I might be stuck with them for ever.

Please help cos I am lost about this.

[RobDog888]

Actually discussing suggested prices is a form of price fixing which is illegal in most areas. Usually the government requires a bid process before thy sign on with a developer/contractor for a project.

You need to evaluate their needs and propose a solution to fit those needs. Write out all tasks, milestones and hours per. Also, any assumptions on the project and that if things change outside of the signed on quote a extra fee or reassesment and requotating will be needed so you wont be adding things and stuff forever at their every call.

Also, if you are doing work on your own then you need to think of the liabilities too. If you put your software in place and it causes some harm to their system(s) they could come back and sue you. You may need to get bonded or insurance.

[AsmIscool]

The governments perceived value here may be very different to that where you are so any numerical value I give you would be useless anyway. A federal government has control of the purse strings so they can spend $50,000 on a toilet seat but the local council has to face their constituents on a daily basis and do not want to make them angry.

As RobDog suggests spell it out for them. Itemise every little detail like you are writing pseudocode and spend time on the document layout but keep it professional not flowery. A one page layout will look and feel like they are really getting half a days work. A fifty page novel that basically says the same thing gives the impression that they are getting a bargain. Avoid jargon in the written areas. Use language that the manager and accountant can understand as that is what they will read. Jargon belongs in the tabulated areas where they just want to see lots of 'stuff' being done for their money as long as the numbers add up.

I will have to disagree with Howi though. Do not undersell yourself. If you are facing a panel with three others as is likely and you are by far the lowest they will ask what is wrong with you, before throwing your tender in the bin. Fair price for your region and the type of organization you are dealing with. If anything give yourself more time than you would need normally. They like people who work slow.

Unfortunately you might also have to remember that they may already have a mate lined up for the job. They just need a few more tenders to show that they followed procedure. Sad and I hope not but the best of luck.

[szlamany]

...Unfortunately you might also have to remember that they may already have a mate lined up for the job. They just need a few more tenders to show that they followed procedure.I hate when you get brought in for a demo just so they can say they followed due-diligence!

But back OT...

The liability stuff is standard bolierplate found in just about any contract. I could post samples of what we have used - but you are better off looking around legal sites and getting the old "hold harmles" type language from them.

Are you donating your time and just working up figures for the dissertation? Or are you actually charging them? Are they a local gvmt - municipality?

More specific with our industry is the proprietary rights of the developed code. We like to "license" the use of our code - no transfer of rights at all - just they can use it. 99 year leases are other typical means of use. I've seen many forms of this language.

Remember everything in a contract has to have two sides. That give-and-take makes the contract bindable.

[angelica]

hi guys,

thank you all for your advice, The thing is that I dont intend to charge as much as a usual software company does. All I want is a good some of money to help me with my studies, but on the other hand I dont want to get hang up with sues and liabilities.

The software is to go for a munipal part of the government and its not a large one.

szlamany, if you can spare me a copy of a good agreement I would really appreciate it cos doing this on my own and with no expereince. I dont actaully know what kind of sue I can get into.

Appreciate a copy of some sort would get me thinking and see what can be adopted to my circumstances.

thanks