What is in the bid sheet template
Two files, same structure:
- Excel (.xlsx): Bid Sheet tab, Bid Tab tab for five bidders, Example tab and How-to tab. Opens in Excel, Google Sheets and Numbers.
- Word (.docx): a printable bid proposal form with addenda acknowledgment and signature block. Opens in Word and Google Docs.
No sign-up and no email address. The files are yours to edit and reuse.
Bid sheet template fields, section by section
1. Bid header
- Project name and location
- Owner and bid or solicitation number
- Bid due date, time and time zone
- Bidder legal name, address, license number
2. Addenda acknowledgment
- Addendum number, date, initials (one line per addendum)
3. Base bid items
- Item number, description, quantity, unit, unit price, extended total (calculated)
- Total base bid (calculated), plus a line for the total in words
4. Alternates
- Alternate number, description, add or deduct, amount
5. Signature
- Authorized signer name, title, signature, date
6. Bid tab (separate tab)
- Items and quantities entered once
- One unit price column per bidder
- Extended totals, bidder totals, rank and low bidder (calculated)
Filled-in bid sheet example
The example tab uses a fictional sidewalk job so you can see the formulas work. On a unit price bid the owner gives the items and quantities and you price them. The sheet multiplies each unit price by its quantity and totals the base bid; alternates stay separate.
How to fill in each field
- Bid number and due date: copy exactly from the invitation, including time zone.
- Addenda: list every addendum by number and date. A missing acknowledgment is a common reason a bid is rejected.
- Bid items: use the owner’s item numbers and descriptions word for word. Your own wording can change what you offer.
- Quantity and unit: on unit price bids, the owner’s quantities; on lump sum work, your own takeoff.
- Unit price and extension: extension is calculated. Check it, because many bid forms say the unit price governs.
- Alternates: price each separately, exactly as described.
- Signature: someone with authority to bind the company, with the legal name exactly as registered.
Short on time? Bidmere can do this for you. Trade estimates from $195, ready in 48 hours. See bid-day estimates or get a fixed quote.
How to use the bid sheet, step by step
- If the owner issued a bid form, submit on theirs and use this as your working copy.
- Enter each bid item with quantity and unit.
- Price each item from your estimate and let the sheet extend it.
- Price alternates and acknowledge every addendum.
- Check the total in words against the figures, sign, and submit before the deadline.
What is a bid tab sheet?
A bid tab, short for bid tabulation, lists each bidder’s prices side by side after opening. Public owners often publish them. GCs use the same layout to compare sub prices, though sub bids also need bid leveling because their scopes differ. The lowest total is not always the award: the owner also checks that each bid is responsive and each bidder responsible.
Is a bid sheet the same as a bid proposal?
No. The bid sheet is the price form. A bid proposal is the document around it stating scope, inclusions, exclusions and terms. Small jobs often use both: the construction bid proposal template with this bid sheet attached.
Rather have the bid prepared for you?
Send the bid documents. Bidmere prepares the bid-day estimate at your rates and organizes the bid form, addenda log and required documents. Single-trade estimates are priced from $195 in 48 hours; bid packages from $1,950 in 5 business days. Your company signs and submits.
Worked example
| Item | Qty | Unit | Unit price | Extended total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Mobilization | 1 | LS | your price | qty x unit price |
| 2. Remove existing sidewalk | 2,400 | SF | your price | qty x unit price |
| 3. Concrete sidewalk, 4 in | 2,400 | SF | your price | qty x unit price |
| 4. Curb ramp with detectable warning | 6 | EA | your price | qty x unit price |
| 5. Topsoil and seed | 1,800 | SF | your price | qty x unit price |
| Total base bid | sum of extended totals | |||
| Alternate 1 (add): cast iron warning panels | 6 | EA | your price | kept separate from base bid |
Fictional example: unit price sidewalk bid
Frequently asked questions
What is a bid proposal sheet?
It is the form where a contractor enters prices for each bid item, the total and any alternates, acknowledges addenda, then signs. It lets the owner compare every bid on the same items. This template includes a bid proposal sheet and a bid tab for comparing bidders.
Should I use the owner’s bid form or this template?
Always submit on the owner’s form when one is issued; changing it can make your bid nonresponsive. Use this template as your working sheet to check extensions and totals, and as the bid form on jobs where the owner does not provide one.
Does the bid sheet template calculate totals and the low bid?
Yes. In the Excel file, extensions, the base bid total, each bidder’s total on the bid tab, the low total, the low bidder and each bidder’s rank are formulas. You enter items, quantities and unit prices. The Word version is a printable form without formulas.
Is the bid sheet template free?
Yes. Download the Excel and Word files with no sign-up and no email address. Edit them for your own jobs and reuse them as often as you like. Google Sheets and Google Docs can open both files, and the formulas keep working in Google Sheets.
How many bidders does the bid tab handle?
Five bidder columns are built in. To add more, copy a bidder column and extend the total and rank formulas to include it. The low bid and rank formulas use standard MIN and COUNTIF functions, so they work the same in Excel and Google Sheets.
What goes in the total in words line?
Write the total base bid in words exactly as it appears in figures, for example one hundred twelve thousand four hundred dollars. Many bid forms say the words govern if the two disagree, so check both before signing. The template leaves this as a typed field, not a formula.
Can you prepare the bid for me?
Yes. Bidmere prepares bid-day estimates from your plans at your rates and organizes the bid form, addenda log and required documents for your review. You get a fixed quote within 2 business hours and pay only after you accept. Your company signs and submits.
Link to this template
Teaching estimating, running a trade association or keeping a resources page for contractors? You are welcome to link to this free template. Copy the link below into your page’s HTML.