Bid Packets

RCPainting

I am a painting contractor. I work for a few small GCs whom I have met from referrals. I recently joined the local Homebuilders Association and now get invited to bid on larger jobs from larger companies. I am putting together a bid on a 24 unit apartment building, here is where I need help.
What does a GC like to see in a bid packet?
Insurance, WC, and License info? A short "bio" of company? References? Past projects?
Or just the price and scope of work?
Thanks

DavidC

I'd say you are on the right track. Proof of insurance and license would be essential. Scope of work and cost is obvious. In decending order of importance, references, company bio and past projects.

If it's competetive bidding you can gain a slight edge by appearing more professional than the competition. If it's a busy GC you can also go overboard with to much info.

Good Luck with your pitch.

Good Luck
Dave

__________________
www.CookContractingLLC.com

RPortinga

Speaking as a GC - just give me a well defined bid.
Note the plans you used, mention any addendums that were issued, list any alternates asked for in the bid documents and spell out both general inclusions and specific inclusions as well as any specific exclusions you might have. And make it EASY for me to see the cost. The first thing that gets looked at when comparring bids is the cost.. if you're the low guy or in the ballpark the apples to apples comparrisons start getting made.

Until I get the job, and then award it to you... I don't need your license/insurance.

If I have questions about your company and if you can handle the work... well, your proposal is going to give me some insight into that. If you're lower than the bulk, that's generally a red flag for one of two things. Either you're a small operator that runs a tight ship (or maybe just hungry for work), or you missed something. It's up to me at that point to qualify your bid by calling you or something... that's the time I can find out more about your company and you, etc.

And please make sure your proposal has your company info, your contact info (phone, mobile, email) on it so if I do have questions I can get a hold of you.

Maybe it's just me, but the less extra paper I have to deal with when trying to put together a big proposal, the better.

If it's your first time bidding to a company, maybe follow up with a faxed letter or email.. a general... thanks for the opportunity to bid, here's a little bit more about our company, and I hope you keep me in mind for future work you have coming up.

I get sooooo much extraneous stuff from subs all the time... it is like all the door flyers a homeowner gets in some ways I guess... but do not over do it.

We've received a flyer by fax and email from a landscape contractor... so far 2 by fax, and another 3 by email to different guys in our office. That's overkill. By about 4 copies...

I am all for giving new subs the chance to bid on stuff I have going on... you never know, that sub you never heard of may be the guy that helps you cut that 1% off your number that makes the difference between me getting the job or not.

Also, don't be afraid to call or email the next day to see how your number compared to others. I have no problem telling subs where they were in the pack.. and if I have time if the bid is broken in to sections I might even be able to tell you just where you were high... say.. maybe you were right with the rest of the pack on the interior, but your exterior was 20% higher than average.

I should say.. being high isn't always bad either... we had a strip center we bid where one electrician was 20k higher than the average... BUT... he was the only one who took in to account the high-voltage stuff required to get from the building to the transformer. The rest just made assumptions that the pad was within 4ft of the building and left it at that.

Once we took that cost out, he was still a bit high, but only by about $1500... so breaking things out as much as makes sense can make a difference too.

I'll shut up now cause I think I'm starting to ramble.

__________________
Rob Portinga - Bauer Bros. Construction, Inc.
Design/Build - General Contractor - Construction Management

RCPainting

Great advice from both of you, thanks. I like the suggestion of following up on both points. Thanks