Final answer:
The claim that an engineer's estimate usually equals a contractor's bid is false, due to numerous factors affecting the contractor's bid such as workload, competition, and market conditions.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that the engineer's estimate is usually equal to the contractor's bid is false. In construction projects, the engineer's or client's estimate serves as a benchmark for what the cost of the project should reasonably be, taking into account materials, labor, overhead, and a reasonable profit margin. However, the actual bid submitted by contractors can vary significantly. Contractors consider additional factors such as their current workload, desire for the project, competition, and specific method of execution which may affect their costs and hence, their bid. Furthermore, market conditions can cause raw material prices to fluctuate, impacting the contractor bids. It is not uncommon to see a variance between the engineer's estimate and the actual bids received from contractors, and in competitive bidding, it's rare for them to match exactly.