Reading the Bid Documents

Welcome

Hello, and welcome. This is Super Structures General Contractors — a national general contractor headquartered in Powhatan, Virginia — here to help you and your clients build something that lasts. We're glad you're with us, and we look forward to connecting with you.

This one's a keeper: Reading the Bid Documents. Cut through everything, and it's this: Read the entire package — instructions, plans, specs, bid form, and every addendum (acknowledge them all) — and find the schedule, LDs, bonding, and payment terms before you price, plus exactly what's in and out of your scope. Master this and you become the person others come to with the hard questions.

A bid package tells you exactly what to price — if you read all of it.

What's in the package

• Invitation/Instructions to Bidders — deadline, format, where/how to submit, required forms.
• Drawings (plans) and specifications — the what and the how good.
• Bid form — the document you fill out (lump sum, unit prices, alternates).
• Addenda — official changes issued during bidding. You must acknowledge every addendum or your bid can be rejected.
• Scope/bid breakdown, allowances, and alternates — extra prices the owner may or may not accept.

Read for risk

Find the schedule, liquidated damages, bonding/insurance requirements, retainage, and payment terms before you price — they change your number. Note what's excluded or by others so you don't price someone else's work (or assume they're pricing yours).

Takeaway: Read the entire package — instructions, plans, specs, bid form, and every addendum (acknowledge them all) — and find the schedule, LDs, bonding, and payment terms before you price, plus exactly what's in and out of your scope.

Educational overview — bid requirements vary by owner and jurisdiction; always follow the specific invitation-to-bid and instructions to bidders.