When a subcontractor provides their own tools, equipment, or materials rather than relying on the prime contractor or client. This shifts procurement responsibility — and often cost risk — directly to your company. Pricing your bids correctly to recover these costs is critical.
Self-Supply
Related Terms
MRP (Materials Requirements Planning)
IndustryA scheduling system that calculates what materials are needed, in what quantities, and when. Subcontractors use it to avoid shortages or excess stock on job sites. It ties material orders directly to project timelines and scopes of work.
Proved Development Locations
IndustrySites already approved for drilling within a producing field, based on confirmed reserves data. For subcontractors, these locations represent near-term, lower-risk work opportunities. Expect faster mobilisation timelines and more defined scopes compared to exploratory sites.
Highway Trust Fund
IndustryA U.S. federal fund that finances highway and infrastructure construction projects. Subcontractors bidding on federally funded road or infrastructure work must meet strict compliance and wage requirements tied to this funding. Budget cycles and congressional approvals directly affect project timelines and payment schedules.
Pilot Bore
IndustryA small-diameter initial hole drilled along a planned path before reaming to full size, commonly used in horizontal directional drilling. Subcontractors use it to verify alignment and ground conditions before committing to the full excavation scope.
ABC (Associated Builders and Contractors)
IndustryA U.S. trade association representing merit-shop contractors in construction and industrial sectors. Subcontractors use ABC membership for training resources, safety programmes, and industry networking. Membership can also signal credibility when bidding on open-shop projects.
Inversion (pipe Lining)
IndustryA trenchless pipe rehabilitation method where a resin-saturated liner is turned inside-out into an existing pipe using water or air pressure. The liner cures in place, forming a new pipe within the old one. Subcontractors are typically scoped for setup, inversion equipment operation, and post-cure inspection.
Latest Industry News
Granite Brings Portable Crusher and Asphalt Plant to $32M Alaska Highway Rebuild
Granite Construction will self-supply 22,000 tons of asphalt on a $32 million Parks Highway reconstruction project near Nenana, Alaska, cutting imported gravel needs by more than 80%.
3 months agoIndustryBaker Hughes Lands Compression, Liquefaction Orders for Venture Global's Gulf Coast Buildout
Baker Hughes secured orders to supply gas compression for the Cloud Connector Pipeline and modular liquefaction equipment for Plaquemines LNG, expanding Venture Global's Louisiana infrastructure footprint.
11 hours agoIndustryInside Ole Miss's $1.3B Build-Out: A Master Class in Managing 170 Projects at Once
The University of Mississippi has 170 construction projects running simultaneously across its Oxford campus, a live test case in staging and sequencing that facility-construction firms bidding higher-ed work should study closely.
11 hours agoIndustry$408M Roosevelt Bridge Replacement Breaks Ground at Lake Texoma
ODOT and design-build team Zachry Construction/Traylor Bros. broke ground on the $408 million US-70 Roosevelt Bridge replacement over Lake Texoma, with completion targeted for fall 2029.
yesterdayRelated Guides
How Operator Mergers and Acquisitions Affect Your Subcontract Agreements
When operators merge, get acquired, or sell assets, subcontractor agreements are caught in the middle. Learn how M&A activity affects your MSA, payment terms, vendor status, and what to do before, during, and after a deal closes.
Industry GuideHow Rig Count Trends Affect Subcontractor Demand and What to Do About It
Rig counts are the earliest signal of where field service work is heading. Learn how to read drilling activity trends, anticipate demand shifts, and position your crew before the phone stops ringing.
Industry GuideWhat Is an AFE in Oil and Gas and How Does It Affect Subcontractor Payments?
An AFE (Authorization for Expenditure) controls every dollar spent on an oilfield project. Learn how it affects your billing, change orders, and cash flow as a subcontractor.
Stay sharp on field operations
Industry news and insights, delivered to your inbox.
Subscribe to FieldNews
