What a bid form contains
The owner or the architect writes the form. It sits in Division 00 of the Project Manual. Bidders fill in the blanks and sign it. On public work, a bid on any other form can be rejected.
- The bidder's legal name and address.
- The base bid amount, often in both words and figures.
- A price for each alternate.
- Unit prices, where the job has them.
- Acknowledgment of each addendum by number and date.
- The time to complete the work, where bidders state it.
- A signature by a person with authority to bind the company.
What can be attached to it
The instructions to bidders list the attachments. Common ones are bid security, a list of subcontractors, a statement of qualifications and certifications the owner requires. The list differs by owner and by state.
Does a subcontractor fill in the bid form?
Usually not. The prime bidder fills it in. The form still shapes what the general contractor needs from you. Suppose the form has four alternates and two unit prices. The general contractor needs your number for each one that touches your trade.
Some general contractors issue their own bid form or scope sheet to subcontractors. Online bidding systems do the same with a checklist. Fill in every line. A blank line forces the estimator to guess on bid day.
How to use the bid form as a subcontractor
- Read the owner's bid form before you start the takeoff.
- List each alternate and unit price that affects your work.
- Break out your proposal to match that list.
- Name each addendum you included.
- State how long your price is good for.
Common errors
A missing addendum acknowledgment, a missing signature and a blank alternate are common errors. On a competitive public bid, each one can make the bid non-responsive. The owner's rules decide.
Bid documents · Updated 11 Nov 2026