What is in the construction bid proposal template
One Word file (.docx) with instructions in brackets for every section. Opens in Word and Google Docs. No sign-up and no email address. The files are yours to edit and reuse.
Construction bid proposal template sections and fields
- Letterhead: company name, address, license number, contact.
- Proposal number and date.
- Addressed to: owner or GC company and the estimator or PM receiving bids.
- Project: name and location, exactly as in the invitation.
- Documents priced: plan sheets with revision dates, specification sections, every addendum by number and date.
- Scope of work: what you will furnish and install, in the specification’s order and words.
- Inclusions: items a reader might assume are out but you priced.
- Exclusions: work you did not price, stated specifically.
- Price table: base bid in words and figures; alternates as add or deduct; unit prices for extra work.
- Schedule: working days after the area is released, and what it depends on.
- Qualifications: assumptions the price depends on.
- Terms: payment terms, retainage, validity period.
- Acceptance: customer signature, name, title and date.
Filled-in bid proposal example
The table below shows the key sections filled in for a fictional drywall subcontract. Replace every line with your own scope and terms.
How to fill in the most important fields
- Documents priced is the most important line: it defines what your price covers. If the drawings change, it shows what you bid.
- Scope: use the specification’s words where you can.
- Inclusions: list backing, cleanup, rated assemblies and other items reviewers often assume are excluded.
- Exclusions: be specific. “Patching by others” is clearer than “patching.”
- Price: base bid alone on its own line. Alternates and unit prices separate.
- Validity: state how long the price holds, such as 30 days.
- Acceptance: on subcontract work, the GC usually replaces this with its own subcontract.
Short on time? Bidmere can do this for you. Bid and proposal packages from $1,950, ready in 5 business days. See subcontractor bid proposal writing or get a fixed quote.
How to use the template, step by step
- Finish your estimate first so scope and price are settled.
- Copy the project name and the exact document list, including every addendum.
- Write scope, inclusions and exclusions as short, specific lines.
- Enter base bid, alternates and unit prices, and check them against any bid form.
- Add schedule and terms, sign, save as PDF and send before the deadline.
Exclusions that most often cause disputes
- Firestopping of other trades’ penetrations.
- Access doors (supply vs install).
- Higher finish levels than specified.
- Overtime, night and weekend work.
- Permits, testing and inspections.
- Patching after other trades.
- Lifts and access equipment.
- Temporary protection of finished work.
Is a bid proposal the same as an RFP response?
No. A bid proposal is a short price-and-scope document. An RFP response is longer and judged on approach, team and experience as well as price. For that, use the construction RFP response template. For the price form itself, see the bid sheet template.
Rather have the proposal written for you?
Send your estimate and the bid documents. Bidmere drafts the scope letter, price table and terms for your approval as a subcontractor proposal, or builds the estimate first at your rates. Single-trade estimates are priced from $195 in 48 hours. You get a fixed quote within 2 business hours.
Worked example
| Section | Example entry |
|---|---|
| Project | Riverside Clinic tenant improvement, second floor |
| Documents priced | A-101 to A-501 and spec sections 09 21 16 and 09 22 16, revision 2, plus addenda 1 and 2 |
| Scope | Furnish and install metal stud framing, gypsum board, taping and finishing to level 4 at partitions and soffits shown |
| Inclusions | Rated partitions as scheduled; deflection track; backing for wall-mounted items shown; daily cleanup to GC dumpster |
| Exclusions | Firestopping of other trades’ penetrations; access doors (install only if supplied); level 5 finish; overtime; permits and testing |
| Alternate 1 (add) | Impact-resistant board in corridors, priced separately |
| Base bid | Your lump sum, in words and figures |
| Schedule | Ten working days for framing and board after release, then six for finishing |
| Validity | 30 days from the proposal date |
Fictional example: drywall subcontractor bid proposal
Frequently asked questions
Is the construction bid proposal template free?
Yes. Download the Word file with no sign-up and no email address, and edit it in Word or Google Docs. Bracketed instructions in each section tell you what to write. Replace every bracket and every example line with your own project information.
What should a construction bid proposal include?
The documents and addenda priced, scope of work, inclusions, exclusions, base bid, alternates, unit prices if requested, schedule, qualifications, payment terms, how long the price is valid, and an acceptance block. The document list is the most important line, because it defines what the price covers.
Should the price be in words and figures?
Yes, when the invitation asks for it, and it is a good habit anyway. Writing the base bid in words and figures reduces disputes over typos. If they disagree, many bid documents say the words govern, so check both before sending.
How long should a bid proposal be valid?
Long enough for the owner or GC to award, short enough that your material and labor prices still hold. Many contractors use 30 to 60 days. State the period and the expiry date in the proposal, and revisit the price if it is accepted later.
Can I send a proposal instead of the owner’s bid form?
Not on formal public bids. Submit on the owner’s form and attach a proposal only if the instructions allow it. On private work and subcontract quotes to GCs, the proposal letter is usually the bid, sometimes with the GC’s own bid form attached.
Should I list addenda in a bid proposal?
Yes, always. List every addendum by number and date in the documents priced section. It proves which version of the documents your price covers, and it is often how a GC confirms your quote is current. A quote that omits addenda may be treated as excluding their changes.
Can you write the proposal for me?
Yes. Send your estimate and the bid documents and Bidmere drafts the scope letter, price table and terms for your approval. If you need the number too, Bidmere prepares the estimate at your rates first. Your company signs and sends the proposal.
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.