Quick guide
Is this article relevant to you?
What is this?
A practical proposal intake checklist for shoring, excavation support, underpinning, slope, and specialty foundation projects.
Who is this best for?
Owners, architects, developers, contractors, and consultants preparing to request a shoring, excavation support, or specialty foundation proposal.
This is relevant if you:
- Want a faster, clearer proposal response from an engineer.
- Are unsure which drawings, reports, photos, and project details to send.
- Have an urgent bid, plan check comment, field issue, or early project question.
Key takeaways
- Send the site address, drawings, geotechnical report, photos, and excavation or foundation scope first.
- Include schedule and bid status so the engineer understands urgency.
- Plan check comments, neighboring structure constraints, and access limits can change the scope quickly.
- A short written problem statement often prevents proposal confusion.
A good shoring or specialty foundation proposal depends on more than a project name. The engineer needs enough context to understand the site, the intended work, the risks, and the likely design scope.
You do not need a perfect package before reaching out. But the items below help the engineer quickly determine whether the project needs temporary shoring, permanent earth retention, underpinning, micropiles, slope stabilization, peer review, or a different kind of support.
What to send an engineer
- Plans, sketches, or existing drawings
- Geotechnical report or soils information
- Site photos, access limits, and adjacent constraints
- Timeline, bid deadline, or current field issue
The minimum useful package
- Site address and project name
- Your role on the project: owner, architect, developer, contractor, shoring contractor, or consultant
- Short description of what needs to be built or solved
- Current drawings, even if they are preliminary
- Geotechnical report or any available soils information
- Photos showing the site, adjacent structures, slopes, access, and existing retaining walls
Information that changes the engineering scope
Excavation depth, property-line conditions, adjacent buildings, utilities, tieback restrictions, groundwater, access limits, and construction sequencing can all affect the design approach. These issues are often more important than the project square footage.
If the project is a hillside lot, basement excavation, subterranean garage, retrofit, or adjacent-to-structure excavation, include any drawings or photos that show how close the work is to existing improvements.
Documents that help avoid rework
- Survey and topography
- Civil grading plans
- Architectural plans and sections
- Structural foundation plans
- Geotechnical report and addenda
- Existing building drawings, if available
- Plan check comments or correction letters
- Bid documents, alternates, or contractor assumptions
The simple email format
A useful first email can be short: what the project is, where it is, what decision you need, what documents are attached, and when you need a response. If the scope is not clear yet, say that. A good early conversation can help define the right engineering path before drawings go too far.
Project examples
See how these issues show up on real Cefali project profiles.
Shows why as-builts, surcharge information, access constraints, underpinning needs, and contractor logistics can change the proposal conversation.
AviationBURShows how utilities, existing structures, proposed grades, retaining walls, and 3D coordination can affect shoring scope.
Sports and EntertainmentUSC ColiseumShows why historical drawings, demolition limits, exposed tunnels, and unexpected field conditions matter early.
Next Step
Send the basics before the project gets expensive.
If you have drawings, a geotechnical report, site photos, plan check comments, or a rough excavation or foundation question, Cefali & Associates can help identify the right structural engineering support.
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