During the first week of February, two teams from Montana Tech travelled to Reno, Nevada to compete in the Heavy/Highway Bidding Competition sponsored by the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) and the Associated Schools of Construction (ASC).
During the competition, each student team was allowed 15-16 hours to prepare a bid on a large construction project averaging $25-$30 + million. Along with the bid, the students prepared a project binder containing a schedule, description of construction methods, quality assurance, safety, logistics, labor requirements, and risk analysis. The teams also prepared and delivered a 20-minute presentation to their respective corporate problem sponsors.
“The competition was much more than just bidding,” noted Larry Hunter, coach and club advisor. “By completing the competition, our students demonstrated the ability to work under pressure as a team and developed a professional presentation similar to what will be expected of them as industry professionals.”
The competition brought in 90 teams from 37 universities. The Montana Tech team placed approximately in the middle of the teams entered. “I am very pleased with our team,” added Hunter. “Our place was very good considering most of the teams at the competition had competed in the past, so are typically more experienced than our Tech teams.” The team includes heavy civil members: Alec Tuman, Jason Bargmann, Jacob Henry, Benjamin Miller, and Brandon Smith and commercial team members: Jacob Ulgenes, Robbie King, Nick Merriman, Dylan Huschka, and Justin VandenBos.
For more information about the team, please contact Larry Hunter, general engineering assistant professor of practice, at 406-496-4770.