New Course: Pre-Construction in Utility-Scale Solar

The subcontractors you select, the contracts you put in place, and the commercial foundations you establish before construction starts will shape every aspect of project execution. A well-run pre-construction (pre-con) process is one of the highest-leverage things an EPC can do – and it’s a topic Andy Nyce knows inside and out.

Andy has covered more ground in utility-scale solar education on HeatSpring than any other instructor with courses spanning construction fundamentals, project management, construction drawings, O&M, and quality management. His latest, Pre-Construction in Utility-Scale Solar, goes deep on this critical part of project delivery that doesn’t get enough attention: the full pre-con process from scoping and subcontractor prequalification through contract execution and field management.

Why pre-construction can make or break a project

On a utility-scale solar project, the subcontracts –  civil, electrical, mechanical, fencing, and others – typically represent the vast majority of total project cost. The decisions made before a pile hits the ground shape everything that follows: cost, schedule, quality, and client relationships. Yet most people in these roles learned the process on the job, often the hard way –  inheriting a contract they didn’t fully understand, awarding work to a sub that looked good on paper but couldn’t perform, or getting into scope disputes that should have been resolved before the contract was signed. 

This course gives you the systematic framework that experienced project managers carry in their heads, built specifically around utility-scale solar construction.

What the course covers

The course is structured across five modules:

The Pre-Construction Process – How utility-scale solar projects get broken into scope packages, how cost per watt drives bidding strategy, and why prequalification is the most important filter before inviting anyone to bid.

RFPs and the Bid Process – How to structure a competitive bid that generates comparable proposals, what to look for during bid leveling, and how to make a defensible award decision that goes beyond picking the lowest number.

Insurance, Bonding, and Licensing – The three commercial protections every EPC must verify before putting a subcontractor on site: insurance, bonding, and licensing. What each one covers, what adequate looks like, and the red flags that should stop an award in its tracks.

The Subcontract – Key provisions of a utility-scale solar subcontract, including scope definition, payment terms, change orders, liquidated damages, and default and termination clauses.

Managing Subcontractors Through Construction – From the pre-mobilization meeting through submittals, RFIs, pay applications, change order management, and accountability – practical tools for keeping subs on track and protecting the project commercially.

Who should take this course

This course is built for project managers, construction managers, contracts administrators, site engineers, and owner’s representatives, essentially anyone who touches the commercial and contractual side of solar construction. It’s also useful for field engineers and superintendents who want to better understand the contractual framework they’re operating within.

No prior knowledge of construction contracting is assumed. The course starts from first principles.

About the instructor

Andy Nyce has been working in utility-scale solar in the U.S. for nearly a decade, with experience across field engineering, project management, quality, and process improvement. He’s managed construction activities on solar projects up to 100 MW, served as Director of Quality at DEPCOM Power, and is currently Senior Director of Project Management at Erthos. He holds a PMP certification, multiple state contractor licenses, and is a Clean Energy Leadership Institute Fellow. He’s had over 1,300 enrollments in his courses on HeatSpring.

Ready to build a stronger pre-construction process? Enroll in “Pre-Construction in Utility-Scale Solar” and browse Andy’s full course catalog on HeatSpring to keep building your utility-scale solar expertise.