Construction bid comparison worksheet
Compare submitted bids on a consistent scope basis. Keep base price, clarified additions, deductions, exclusions, and open questions visible before deciding which offer meets the project requirements.
The starting row is fictional. Edit it or remove it and add your own records. Inputs stay in this browser session and are not automatically saved or transmitted. Export the reviewed CSV to keep a copy.
How should construction bids be compared?
First confirm that the offers address the same scope. Record each base price, then the additions and deductions needed for a consistent comparison. Keep unresolved exclusions and scope readiness visible before evaluating the adjusted amounts.
How to use the worksheet
- Use one scope package and currency for all compared offers.
- Transcribe each base bid without altering the submitted amount.
- Document why each addition or deduction is needed for comparable scope.
- Resolve exclusions, schedule, and commercial terms before an award decision.
Normalized comparison = base bid + documented scope additions − documented scope deductions. All values are USD for the same package/price basis. Readiness requires Scope complete? = Yes; unresolved scope remains Needs clarification. No automatic award or best-bid ranking.
A worked example
A fictional $100,000 base offer with a $5,000 scope addition and $2,000 deduction has a $103,000 comparison amount. An unresolved exclusion remains a separate decision even when that amount is lower than another offer.
What to check before using the output
The adjusted amount is base price plus additions minus deductions. It does not choose the best bidder or determine an award. Qualifications, schedule, exclusions and other project requirements still need review.
Compare scope before comparing totals
Bid tabulation puts offers side by side. Scope leveling checks whether those offers include the same work. Keep the submitted base bid unchanged, then document any addition or deduction used for comparison. Record an unresolved exclusion as a question for the bidder rather than silently assigning it a zero cost.
Keep alternates and qualifications visible
Choose one common scope and price basis for the comparison. If an alternate is being considered, describe whether each bid includes it and why an adjustment was entered. Review schedule, lead times, qualifications and commercial terms separately from the adjusted amount. The worksheet's readiness field helps identify unresolved scope; it does not approve a bidder or enforce a procurement process.
Interpreting the example row
The example interior-partitions offer is $250,000 plus $15,000 of additions minus $5,000 of deductions, giving $260,000 for comparison. Scope is marked No because acoustical sealant is excluded. The row therefore still needs clarification even if its adjusted amount is the lowest. Record who will resolve the question and when, then update the decision notes with the clarification reference.