"The Dotted Line" contract series: Bidding — Sept. 13

In January, we launched our year-long series, "The Dotted Line," exploring facets of construction contracts each month. From guaranteed maximum price to design-build to lump sum, we've looked into the intricacies of each type of agreement.

On Tuesday, Sept. 13, the next installment in our series will examine the starting point of a construction contract — the bidding process. We'll speak with experts about industry best practices for both private and public work, as well as potential pitfalls and critical areas that contractors often ignore.

The monthly Producer Price Index report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics will be released Thursday, Sept. 15. That afternoon, the Associated Builders and Contractors will offer its take on the data, and we'll cover both reports in a combined story.

Last month, the BLS reported that July construction material prices remained unchanged from June but were 2.3% below the July 2015 level. July's price stabilization came after four consecutive months of increases in construction industry inputs in the Producer Price Index.

ABC Chief Economist Anirban Basu said the stability of material prices in July coincided with the group's predictions after "a period of market volatility." He said the global economy's disappointing growth hasn't resulted in significantly higher input prices, and supply is not yet outpacing demand for materials. Will prices hold steady in Thursday's report, or will they rise once again?

Opening a new restaurant or providing new housing for the community doesn't have to mean demolishing historical buildings that often provide character and a link to the rich pasts of neighborhoods. In our feature article on Thursday, Sept. 15, we'll explore how developers creatively and carefully repurpose these older structures for contemporary use.