BBidPacket
How it worksSamplesPricingGuides
Sign inTry BidPacket
Free tool

Free bid no-bid tool for contractors.

Score a construction job before you commit estimating time. Answer nine questions to get a reading out of 18 and a short list of what to settle first. It runs in your browser: your answers are not stored or sent, and no email is required.

0 of 9 answered

  1. Fit1. Is this the kind of work we do well?

    Why this matters: Jobs outside your usual trade, size or type are where the surprises and the overruns live.

  2. Capacity2. Can we staff and schedule it if we win?

    Why this matters: A job you win and cannot crew costs more than a bid you never submitted.

  3. Margin3. Does the job look like it can earn our target margin?

    Why this matters: If you cannot see the margin when you bid, you rarely find it later.

  4. Owner or GC4. Do we know the owner or GC, and do they pay and deal fairly?

    Why this matters: Who is on the other side of the contract decides how a dispute or a late payment goes.

  5. Competition5. Do we have a real edge against the likely bidders?

    Why this matters: Price, location, a relationship or a specialty. Without one, you are bidding to be the cheapest.

  6. Scope clarity6. Are the documents clear enough to price without guessing?

    Why this matters: Unclear scope is risk you either price in or absorb. Neither is free.

  7. Requirements7. Can we meet the bonding, insurance and licensing requirements?

    Why this matters: A bid that cannot meet a stated requirement can be thrown out before anyone reads the price.

  8. Contract terms8. Are the liquidated damages, retainage and payment terms ones we can live with?

    Why this matters: Harsh terms turn a thin margin into a loss, and they are easy to miss in a long contract.

  9. Time to prepare9. Do we have enough time before the due date to prepare a proper bid?

    Why this matters: A rushed bid is a guess with a cover sheet, and it leaves no room for questions or addenda.

Answer all nine questions to see your reading. 9 to go.

If it's a bid, start with the RFP.

Upload it and get a free preview of the project summary, scope and open questions.

Upload your RFP
How it scores

What the reading means.

Each answer is worth two points for Yes, one for Not sure and none for No, for a total out of 18. Fourteen or more is a strong bid. Nine to thirteen is a bid with caution. Fewer than nine is probably a pass.

Three questions work as gates: capacity, requirements and time to prepare. A No on any of them keeps the reading from going above bid with caution, because a strong margin does not rescue a job you cannot staff, qualify for or finish a proper bid on.

A 15 out of 18 can still mean bid with caution.

Illustration: answer Yes to seven questions, Not sure on scope clarity and No on capacity. Seven Yes answers give 14 points and the Not sure adds one, for 15 out of 18. The capacity gate keeps the reading at bid with caution. Confirm that a crew can cover the job and resolve the scope questions before committing to the bid.

The scorecard asks 9 questions because those are the ones that move a decision. For a longer walk through the same factors, read the bid / no-bid decision guide.

Questions

Straight answers.

What is a bid / no-bid decision?

The decision, made before you spend estimating time, about whether an opportunity is worth pursuing. It weighs fit, capacity, margin, risk and time against the effort of preparing a proper bid.

What is a go / no-go decision in construction?

The same decision under another name. “Go / no-go” and “bid / no-bid” both describe screening an invitation to bid and choosing whether to commit to the full bid or pass.

How does this scorecard score a job?

You answer nine questions with Yes, Not sure or No. Yes counts two points, Not sure one and No none, for a total out of 18. Fourteen or more reads as a strong bid, nine to thirteen as bid with caution, and fewer than nine as probably pass. A No on capacity, requirements or time to prepare keeps the reading from going above bid with caution.

Is my information saved or sent anywhere?

No. The scorecard runs in your browser. Your answers are not stored and not sent to BidPacket or anyone else, and there is no email gate.

Should I rely on the score to decide?

Use it as a prompt, not an answer. It does not know your margins, your crews or the owner. The most useful part is the list of weak answers, which shows what to settle before you commit estimating time.