Start with the decision
Write the elevator modernization scope around named deliverables, the drawings that describe them and the interfaces with other trades. Identify each elevator, its existing equipment and the components that will remain. Compare bids by car and by outage sequence, with inspection and return to service assigned explicitly. Use the worksheet below to expose missing information before requesting a firm quotation.
This guide is for business-to-business project planning in the United States and Canada. For the wider trade context, visit the elevator modernization resource hub.
Define each package boundary
| Deliverable | Input to include | Boundary to settle |
|---|---|---|
| Controls and retained equipment | existing car inventory, controller scope and components proposed for reuse | controller and drive replacement versus retained cab and mechanical equipment |
| Doors and landing fixtures | opening and fixture schedules by car and served floor | door operators, fixtures and finish repairs assigned to other trades |
| Outage and return to service | car-by-car sequence, building access plan and acceptance milestones | site coordination, inspection booking and responsibility for addressing outstanding items |
Download the elevator modernization scope of work worksheet (CSV)
Fill in the response, owner or source, and date checked. Keep unresolved items visible. The file contains planning prompts only; it does not calculate quantities or make an approval decision.
Put the checklist to work
- Attach the current drawing and specification references, and identify who may receive them. Separate issued information from items still awaiting approval.
- Assign retained components, connections by other trades, temporary access arrangements and inspection coordination explicitly. Use included, excluded, by others or unresolved, with a named owner for unresolved items.
- Document assumptions about the equipment survey, building access, approved outage sequence and availability of the inspection parties. A target date is not a substitute for those inputs being available.
- Issue the same revision to all invited businesses. Record clarifications and circulate material changes before comparing proposals.
A scope gap worth discussing
Illustrative example — not a Build Accord client project
One bid includes new landing fixtures on every served floor while another reuses selected fixtures. Ask for a floor-by-floor list and check that the proposals allow for the same staggered outages before comparing totals.
Apply this to your decision: A scope sheet with deliverables, interfaces, exclusions and unresolved decisions that every invited business can price against.
Using this in the US and Canada
For a project in the United States
Record the state, local jurisdiction and actual service area. Confirm the project location and the scope of the business’s authority with the responsible project team. The U.S. Small Business Administration provides a starting point for business licensing resources.
For a project in Canada
Record the province or territory, municipality and actual service area. Use Canada’s permits and licences resources to locate relevant checks, including the linked BizPaL service. Confirm requirements for the actual activity and location.
For either market, state the currency, units and deadline time zone. This worksheet is general planning guidance, not a determination of licensing, procurement eligibility or technical compliance.
The next useful step
Continue with elevator modernization invitation to bid checklist. For the other side of the conversation, see the elevator modernization bid proposal guide.
Build Accord coordinates introductions between construction project teams and trade contractors. An inquiry starts a discussion of fit and availability; it does not guarantee a contractor, an invitation to bid or an award. These guides are not a listing of currently available crews or projects.