How do you compare commercial concrete contractor proposals?

How do you establish a fair comparison?

You establish a fair comparison by asking every bidder to price the same scope, documents, quantities, and operating requirements. Give each bidder the same marked work areas, drawing revisions, quantities, operating requirements, and response deadline. Record the documents each proposal actually prices. If one contractor offers a different method, retain it as an alternative with its own assumptions.

Separate questions about the design from questions about the contractor’s price. Your responsible project professionals should resolve technical suitability; the comparison should make the proposed work and remaining decisions visible.

What should you compare in each proposal?

You should compare the defined work, pricing assumptions, exclusions, schedule, and contractor evidence in each proposal.

How should you handle unknown costs?

You should handle unknown costs by recording assumptions, allowances, exclusions, and the basis for pricing additional authorized work.

Consider an illustrative slab replacement comparison: one proposal includes a defined amount of support preparation; another excludes unsuitable material below the slab. Their totals do not represent the same certainty. Record that difference and request clarification about the assumed condition, measurement method, and price basis for additional authorized work.

Do not enter zero for an unanswered item. Label it “not stated,” “excluded,” or “allowance,” and assign a follow-up. Add confirmed separate costs only when you have a defensible basis. Keep an unpriced risk separate from any calculated total.

For scope-specific questions, review slab replacement cost drivers or the loading dock repair trade boundaries.

What should you resolve before selecting a contractor?

You should resolve scope differences, price assumptions, delivery responsibilities, and operating arrangements before selecting a contractor.

1. Issue a shared clarification.

   If a question changes the bid scope, send the same update to every invited bidder and ask for a revised response.

2. Check the proposed delivery.

   Confirm service area, capacity, references, current insurance, and qualifications relevant to this project. Ask about the crew and any subcontracted work.

3. Record the selection basis.

   Document the agreed scope, remaining decisions, operating plan, and price assumptions. Transfer the resolved information into the project’s appointment documents with the appropriate professional review.

The project workspace lets you compare proposals you already have and keep scope questions together. A comparison does not appoint a contractor or send your project to anyone.