This course gives you a real look at what construction bidding is actually like from the estimator's seat. Across six lessons, you'll work through the full bid lifecycle, starting with how firms decide which projects are worth pursuing, then moving into building a solid subcontractor pool, leveling bids to make fair comparisons, and finally pricing the job with the right mix of general conditions, fees, and contingency. You'll also get a feel for how general contractors weigh risk, competition, backlog, and client behavior when figuring out how aggressively to price a project.
Each lesson pairs core concepts with hands-on exercises built around the kinds of situations estimators run into every day, and the course wraps up with a bid day simulation and final exam. You'll practice putting together complete, competitive bids while dealing with last-minute changes, scope gaps, and missing information, all without cutting corners on ethics.
What You Will Learn
- Understand the full role of the estimator and how bidding fits into the overall project lifecycle
- Evaluate projects for pursuit using go/no-go criteria, contract structure, competition, and backlog
- Build a qualified subcontractor bid list and solicit complete, competitive coverage across trades
- Level subcontractor bids by normalizing scope, identifying gaps, and justifying final selections
- Price a complete bid by incorporating general conditions, fee structure, and risk-based contingency
- Navigate bid day pressures to submit a competitive, ethical, and complete final bid
Course Outline
Lesson 1: The Role of the Estimator
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Estimator versus takeoff technician
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Where bidding fits in the project lifecycle
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What general contractors prioritize when pursuing work
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Overview of the bidding workflow
Lesson 2: Bid Strategy and Project Selection
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Hard bid, negotiated work, and GMP structures
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Go or no-go decision making
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Understanding the bid environment, including competition and client behavior
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Backlog and capacity considerations
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Lesson 2 Hands-on Exercise
Lesson 3: Subcontractor Strategy and Bid Solicitation
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Building a bid list
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Subcontractor prequalification, including financials, experience, and capacity
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Ensuring adequate coverage across trades
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Communication and outreach best practices
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Lesson 3 Hands-on Exercise
Lesson 4: Bid Leveling and Scope Analysis
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Principles of comparing bids on an equal basis
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Identifying scope gaps and overlaps
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Reviewing clarifications and assumptions
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Standard bid leveling workflows
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Lesson 4 Hands-on Exercise
Lesson 5: Pricing the Job - General Conditions, Fees, and Risk
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Breakdown of general conditions, including staffing and site costs
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Fee strategy and margin considerations
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Contingency planning based on project risk
Lesson 6: Bid Day and Final Submission
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Bid day workflow and coordination
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Managing last-minute changes and incomplete information
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Ethical considerations in bidding practices
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Final Exam
