Estimating by state: OH
Ohio construction estimating for public and private bids
Measured takeoffs and estimates for Ohio bids, priced at your rates and checked against Ohio wage thresholds, bid guaranties and ODOT rules.
Fixed price in 2 business hours. Pay only after you accept.
- Fixed price before any work starts
- Plan review and quotes are free
- You pay only after you accept the price and delivery date
- Single-trade estimates in 48 hours
- Your rates, your final number: your team signs and submits
Quick answer
Ohio construction estimating from Bidmere gives general contractors and subcontractors measured takeoffs and cost estimates priced at their own rates, prepared remotely from plans and specifications. Single-trade estimates are priced from $195 and are ready in 48 hours. You get a fixed quote within 2 business hours and pay after you accept.
Where Ohio public construction work is advertised
The Ohio Facilities Construction Commission (OFCC) publishes construction opportunities for state agencies, two- and four-year public colleges and universities, and K to 12 districts in its programs. OFCC says that with few exceptions, public construction contracts are awarded through competitive processes: competitive bidding, qualifications-based selection or a selection that weighs price with other factors. You can subscribe for new bid alerts.
- Highways and bridges: ODOT lets highway construction projects, and bids are submitted through Bid Express.
- Cities, counties and school districts: their own advertisements, under the Revised Code rules below.
Does Ohio require prevailing wage on public work?
Yes, above set thresholds. Ohio Revised Code Chapter 4115 covers wages on public improvements. The statute text of ORC 4115.03 lists $250,000 for new construction and $75,000 for reconstruction, alteration, repair, remodeling or painting. Road, street, sewer and bridge thresholds are separate, and the director of commerce adjusts them every two years under ORC 4115.034.
Where to check: classify the work as building or road, and new or reconstruction, then confirm the current figure with Ohio Commerce and the bid documents.
Ohio trade licensing, bid guaranties and contract bonds
The Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board licenses HVAC, refrigeration, electrical, plumbing and hydronics contractors (ORC 4740.01). General contracting is not one of those licensed trades, so check local registration.
ORC 153.54 sets the bid guaranty on state and local public improvements, excluding the Department of Transportation. File either:
- a bond for the full amount of the bid, or
- a certified check, cashier’s check or letter of credit equal to 10% of the bid.
If awarded, the bidder files a contract bond for the contract amount covering performance and payment of subcontractors, suppliers and laborers. Carry the premium as its own line.
ODOT prequalification and DBE certification
ODOT says contractors must be prequalified to bid on its highway construction projects, and bids are submitted through Bid Express. Prequalify before committing estimating time to a prime highway bid. The OFCC building-bid process does not establish ODOT eligibility.
DBE certification runs through the Ohio Unified Certification Program, with a unified DBE directory. DBE and ACDBE firms must resubmit documentation every year to stay eligible.
Common project types Ohio contractors estimate
Ohio public work includes OFCC school and state facility projects, ODOT and local road lettings, and county and city buildings. Common requests: K to 12 building packages, licensed MEP trades, concrete and masonry, and sitework and paving on unit price forms.
Bidding work in this state? Send the plans and specs. Fixed quote within 2 business hours. Plan review is free, and you pay only after you accept.
Get a fixed quoteHow Ohio rules change the numbers in your estimate
Each rule lands in a specific estimate line.
- Classify the work as building or road, new or reconstruction, before checking the wage threshold.
- Price covered work at the prevailing wage rates in the bid documents.
- Choose a full-bid bond or a 10% check or letter of credit under ORC 153.54, and keep it separate from the contract bond premium.
- Confirm your OCILB trade license for HVAC, electrical, plumbing, hydronics or refrigeration scope.
- Confirm ODOT prequalification before estimating a highway bid.
- Log every addendum and acknowledge it as the bid form requires.
Ohio construction estimating done remotely, at your rates
Bidmere estimates Ohio projects remotely from the plans, specifications and addenda you send. You set the rates, wage schedule and markups; Bidmere measures, prices at your rates and returns an Excel estimate with live formulas, color-coded marked-up PDF plans, and a written list of assumptions, exclusions and open questions.
For OFCC school work, the estimate can be split by bid package so your team prices only the packages it plans to bid.
- Single-trade estimates from $195 in 48 hours; multi-trade from $1,150.
- Bid packages from $1,950 in 5 business days.
Fixed price within 2 business hours, free plan review, pay only after you accept. Bidmere does not visit sites, sign or submit bids, or guarantee awards.
Before you send plans
Common questions about handing off the work
Will I lose control of my number?
No. Every rate and markup comes from your team, and you approve the estimate.
Can a remote estimator handle Ohio rules?
The estimate follows the wage and bond terms in your bid documents and flags any gap.
What if an addendum lands after the estimate is done?
Send it. Affected quantities are updated and the changes listed.
Monthly estimating plans
Bidding every week? Ask about a monthly estimating plan
Steady bidders can use a monthly plan instead of quoting each job: $1,395 per month for up to 6 bids, $2,595 per month for up to 12 bids, or $4,795 per month for up to 25 bids. Every plan uses your rates, and your team still signs and submits each bid.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Do you need to be in Ohio to estimate Ohio projects?
No. Bidmere works remotely from the plans, specifications and addenda you send, so location does not limit the work. Bidmere does not visit sites. Share photos or pre-bid notes, and the estimate lists every assumption made where the documents are silent.
Does Ohio require prevailing wage on public work?
Yes, above project-cost thresholds set in ORC 4115.03. The statute lists $250,000 for new construction and $75,000 for reconstruction or alteration, while road and bridge thresholds are adjusted every two years by the director of commerce. Confirm the current threshold with Ohio Commerce and the bid documents.
What should I send for a Ohio public bid estimate?
Send the plans, specifications, every issued addendum, the bid form and any wage determination. Tell us the trades, the bid due date and the labor rates, markups and supplier pricing to use. You can start with project basics; document sharing is arranged after scope review.
How much does a Ohio construction estimate cost, and how fast is it?
Single-trade estimates are priced from $195 and are ready in 48 hours. Multi-trade estimates are priced from $1,150, and full bid packages are priced from $1,950 in 5 business days. You get a fixed price and delivery date within 2 business hours and pay only after you accept them.
What bid guaranty does an Ohio public improvement bid need?
Under ORC 153.54, bidders on state and local public improvements, excluding ODOT, file either a bond for the full amount of the bid or a certified check, cashier’s check or letter of credit equal to 10% of the bid. The awarded bidder then files a contract bond for the contract amount.
Who is responsible for the final Ohio bid?
Your company. Bidmere measures quantities and prices them at the rates you approve, then hands the estimate to your team for review. Your authorized signer sets the final number, signs the bid form and submits it. Bidmere does not sign or submit bids and does not guarantee an award.
Get a fixed quote
Share the project basics. You get a fixed price and delivery date within 2 business hours. Plan review is free, and you pay only after you accept.
Sources
- https://ofcc.ohio.gov/project-opportunities/bids
- https://www.transportation.ohio.gov/business/contracts/bidding
- https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-4115.03
- https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-4115.034
- https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-4740.01
- https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-153.54
- https://www.transportation.ohio.gov/business/external-workforce/dbe