A couple of builders have rang me up want me to look at a new build tomorrow all conduits and singles. No problem with that. Just the mention of fire alarm has put me off. Obviously micc cable? I know certain regs for it like positioning of detectors etc but whats all the verification and commissiong stuff?
Is the spec for MICC - very few installs are these days - mostly FP200, probably enhanced grade.
You can't do a system of that scope without a proper design, and expect it to comply, so design is ESSENTIAL. The architect (hopefully) or some other authority should have put a category to the system - e.g. will comply with the requirements for an Lx system (where x is a number between 1 and 5) - or it may be a P category system.
Either way - you need that, and then to design the system to that category. The design is also fundamental to what cable you run, and where.
Once the system is installed (depending on size, it may be conventional which is easier to commission but has a higher overhead in installation time) or it may be analogue (which is harder to commission correctly, but has a lower installation overhead) - it needs fully testing, after programming to ensure it works exactly as intended, and in compliance with the requirements of the standard (e.g. activation times, phased evac, cause and effect, and so on).
Then maintenance. It still escapes me how people think that they can have a compliant system without maintenance in place - it clearly states in the standard that maintenance is part of the compliance requirement - and therefore is mandatory, not optional.
It may be the case that the builder knows he needs an "L3 system" for example - but expects to leave the design to you. In that case, best advice is to get a designer involved......which can be done from plans.
Sounds to me like you're best off roping in a fire company, and submitting their price to do the work (with any mark up you add for the management of that service....... (joke, not dig)).........