Structural Steel Bid / No-Bid Checklist
A practical first-pass screen for fabricators and erectors. Use it before investing hours in takeoff, vendor pricing, and subcontractor outreach.
1. Confirm the opportunity is live
- Open the issuing agency or contractor's original posting; never rely on an email date alone.
- Record the exact bid deadline, time zone, delivery method, pre-bid meeting, and question deadline.
- Download the latest addenda and confirm whether acknowledging each addendum is mandatory.
- Check whether this is a prime bid, subcontractor bid, budget price, prequalification, or request for qualifications.
2. Locate the steel scope
Start with the structural general notes, framing plans, schedules, and these common specification sections. The contract may divide responsibility differently, so verify the drawings, specifications, and bid form together.
| Scope | Common location | Questions to answer |
|---|---|---|
| Structural framing | 05 12 00; S-series drawings | Member grades, connections, delegated design, camber, testing |
| Joists and deck | 05 21 00 / 05 31 00; roof and floor plans | Joist designation, bridging, deck type/gage, sidelaps, openings |
| Miscellaneous metals | 05 50 00; architectural and structural details | Stairs, rails, ladders, embeds, lintels, bollards, supports |
| Coatings | 05 05 13, 09 91 00, finish schedules | Shop prime, galvanizing, intumescent coating, touch-up, exposed steel |
| Erection | Division 01, 05, logistics drawings | Crane access, phasing, temporary bracing, field welding, surveys |
3. Screen commercial and schedule risk
- Does the project fit your geographic radius, shop capacity, certification, bonding, and insurance?
- Can mills and vendors support the required material grades, domestic-content rules, finishes, and delivery dates?
- Are liquidated damages, retainage, payment terms, bid security, performance bonds, or unusual indemnity terms disclosed?
- Is there enough time for takeoff, connection assumptions, subcontractor quotes, review, and a clean proposal?
- Does the apparent project value justify the estimating effort and opportunity cost?
4. Use a simple bid / no-bid score
Score each item from 0 (poor) to 2 (strong). A total is a decision aid, not a substitute for judgment.
| Factor | 0 | 1 | 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scope fit | Outside capabilities | Manageable stretch | Core work |
| Capacity and schedule | Conflict | Tight | Good fit |
| Documents | Incomplete | Some gaps | Complete enough |
| Customer / competition | Unknown or poor fit | Neutral | Known opportunity |
| Commercial terms | Unacceptable | Needs exceptions | Acceptable |
| Margin potential | Low | Unclear | Attractive |
Suggested interpretation: 10–12 merits immediate pursuit; 7–9 needs a manager review; 0–6 is usually a no-bid unless there is a strategic reason.
5. Before submitting
- Reconcile takeoff, inclusions, exclusions, alternates, allowances, freight, tax, escalation, and erection assumptions.
- Confirm the proposal uses the required form and includes signatures, acknowledgements, bonds, licenses, and certifications.
- State what is included clearly enough that the customer can compare bids without guessing.
- Perform an independent final review of quantities, extensions, schedule, and submission instructions.
This checklist is general estimating guidance. The solicitation and contract documents control.