Site Visit = Sight

By Sean & Doug Reitmeyer — GCExperts. Originally posted on Skool: .

Why What You See Is What You Own in Federal Construction At GCExperts, we teach a very simple rule when it comes to federal construction site visits: Site (S-I-T-E) visit = Sight (S-I-G-H-T). In other words, you are responsible for what you can see with your eyes. That framing is intentional, and it’s one of the most important mindset shifts contractors need to make when bidding federal work. What Most Contractors Think a Site Visit Is Many contractors treat a site visit like: - A courtesy walkthrough - A checkbox - Something optional if they’re busy - Something they can replace by reading the drawings That mindset works in some commercial settings. It does not work in federal construction. What a Site Visit Actually Is in Federal Construction A federal site visit is about risk allocation. The government’s position is essentially this: If a reasonable contractor could have observed it during a site visit, that condition is yours. That doesn’t mean you’re responsible for everything on the site. It means you’re responsible for what was reasonably observable. That’s the difference. What “Sight” Really Means When you go to a site visit, you should be asking yourself: - What can I physically see? - What conditions are obvious? - What access issues are visible? - What phasing constraints exist? - What conflicts jump out between drawings and reality? - What security, occupancy, or operational issues are apparent? Examples of things that fall under “sight”: - Limited access or staging areas - Occupied buildings - Security checkpoints - Tight work windows - Aging infrastructure - Visible utilities and tie-ins If it’s visible, the government will almost always say: “You saw it. You bid it.” That’s not punishment. That’s how federal risk is allocated. Why This Concept Protects You This mindset does two very important things. First, it forces disciplined bidding. Contractors stop saying: “I’ll figure it out later.” Later is where profits disappear.