What are submittals in construction?
Submittals are documents a contractor sends to the design team to review during a project, confirming that the products and methods it intends to use meet the specification. The most common types are shop drawings, product data sheets, samples, mock-ups, test reports and certificates. In US practice they are governed by the project specifications (commonly CSI MasterFormat section 01 33 00, 'Submittal Procedures') and tracked on a submittal schedule or submittal register, so the design team knows what to expect and when.
Are submittals the same as returnable schedules?
Submittals and returnable schedules are related but not the same, and they sit at different stages of a job. Returnable schedules (the Australian and UK term) are the forms a bidder completes and returns with the bid: priced schedules, compliance statements, capability and program. US submittals in the strict sense are a post-award process, the shop drawings and product data reviewed during construction. The overlap is real but partial, so treat 'submittals equal returnable schedules' as a rough translation, not an exact equivalence.
What is the US equivalent of a returnable schedule at bid time?
At bid time, the US counterpart to a returnable schedule is usually called a bid form, proposal form, exhibit or attachment. These are the structured forms a bidder must fill in and submit with the offer: the bid price form, the list of subcontractors, the bid bond and any required certifications, in the format the owner will evaluate. The name differs from the Australian 'returnable schedule', but the function is identical: a buyer-issued form returned as part of a compliant submission.
What types of submittals does a US project require?
A US project groups submittals into a few standard categories. Shop drawings show fabrication and installation detail; product data is the manufacturer's cut sheets; samples are physical examples for colour or finish; quality records cover test reports, certifications and mill certificates; and closeout submittals include O&M manuals, warranties and as-builts. Each is listed against a specification section and routed for the design team's action: approved, approved as noted, revise and resubmit, or rejected.
Why the US/AU terminology gap trips up bid teams
Read the submission instructions for the actual document list, formats and stage. Elora Grid can help read the project files, identify requirements and prepare supplier packages. Keep bid responses separate from post-award shop drawings and product data, and check each deliverable against the buyer's requirements.