Ok, I was asked for a proposal today for a contract to admin a small network. And I am having a hard time coming up with dollar figures. Let me outline the work involved:

-Admin a samba server domain controller.
-Admin Apache/sendmail server with clamAV and Spamassasin, webmail
-Provide Helpdesk
-Admin 30 Windows 2k machines
-Firewall appliance monitoring.
-Offsite Backup storage of 400GB
-Logfile analysis and security audits.
-Monthly updates to a website
-Break/fix, viri removal
-They have a turnover of about 40%/yr.

So, The structure of the contract is as such. Base fee +extra for additional helpdesk and break/fix or virus removal time. I expect alot of helpdesk time, so i will include a handful of hours in the base.

I want to give them an reasonable contract, but dont want underbid too much either. (I actually have this one in the bag)

Thanks in advance.

Why not either check out similar jobs (contract and non-contract) and see what they are paying or, and this could be me making this up, aren't there "contractor forums" out there where you could ask what the going rates are?

And this is moved to General, because it's not a technical question.

Good luck.

oops, my bad. Saw general, just missed the linux. Sorry.

who is soliciting you for the contract?? or are you soliciting the contract?? I am confused on the scenario...

The going rate for a full-time systems administration consultant is around 60-70/hr though.

They approached me. But I am sure they will also solicit other admins before making a decision.

I dont think they are willing to go as high as 70k. More than likely, they will argue that it is less than FT.

Doesnt sound like a fair market value... You are going to have a hard time keeping an employee working at the rate you will end up paying.

if they [company] are paying 70k per year to a consultig firm for one sys admin...

you are looking at an Hourly Bill rate of $33.65

We will figure in you keeping 40%, you would be paying you consultant/contractor $20.19 an hour and you would pocket the rest. I would feel that your turnover rate would be pretty high. for the postion paying that amount.

Why dont you get someone to represent you ?
a few bucks invested now might save thousands later


floppy

I have been considering your point floppy.

What it comes down to, is that I am lazy. I want to do the least number of jobs possible to make the most amount of money (who doesn't)so, I would like to be handling this contract personally.

I have about 3 more on the horizon, each fairly similar with some slight differences. One would require alot of web development, one verry little.

I guess what I am looking for is peoples experience with similar situations to establish a decent pricing point.

This might be acheived by making sure you have one good contract that you can use with multiple clients.

Granted, it sounds as though your dilema is pricing, not necessarily contract wording.

yeah, the reuseable contract is not a problem. I am an MBA and I have two faimly members that are lawyers for some real real real big software company or something.

So, my goal is to get pricing information so that I can underbid people by 1% instead of 5%