The steps in order
- Get the invitation and download the whole packet: plans, Project Manual and addenda.
- Read the cover facts: bid date, schedule, bonds, wage rules, tax status.
- Decide to bid or to pass. Tell the GC which one.
- Read your spec section and the sections it refers to.
- Do the takeoff. Count each item on the plans.
- Send questions to the GC before the question deadline.
- Get supplier quotes for the major materials.
- Price material, labor, equipment, overhead and profit.
- Write the proposal with inclusions, exclusions and the addenda you received.
- Send it on time. Then follow up after the bid.
Who you send the bid to
A subcontractor bids to the general contractors, not to the owner. Several GCs often bid the same job. Find the list of bidding GCs in the plan room or ask the architect. Send your number to each one you trust.
What the GC wants from you
The GC needs a number, a scope and proof that you read the documents. Name your spec sections. List the addenda. State what you exclude. A GC with two numbers picks the one that carries less risk.
What comes after the bid
The low number does not always win. The GC compares scope first. Expect a call with questions about your inclusions. Answer fast and in writing. Keep your takeoff and your notes, because you may need them months later.
Where bids fail
- The takeoff used an old set of drawings.
- The proposal left out an item the spec section requires.
- An addendum changed the scope and no one saw it.
- The bid arrived after the GC closed the number.
Bidding and estimating · Updated 11 Nov 2026