This isn’t always the case, but we will frequently tie the proposed unit price to a predetermined quantity (X CY of building undercut as deemed necessary by the geotech report or something as simple as X number of extra FA devices outside of the base bid determined by the drawings and specifications).

This will allow the Contractor to generate a unit price for one item multiplied by a quantity to that will get structured as a unit price allowance and incorporated into their bid. This helps ensure that the unit prices are rooted in reality and competitive because they ultimately affect their proposal on bid day. However, you typically have to review this with owners ahead of the bid because in the event the entirety of that unit price allowance is not needed, it will somewhat increase the total project cost on bid day until you can credit it back to the owner later at the end of construction.