Sample contractor bid comparison report
This fictional tenant improvement example shows the contractor pilot deliverable: an apples-to-apples bid leveling matrix, true-cost comparison, missing/excluded-scope flags, and bidder-specific questions before award.
Every vendor, number, and finding below is fictional. The report is decision support — it helps organize scope gaps, pricing outliers, and clarification questions, but it does not make the final award decision for you.
Bid leveling
Included, excluded, unclear, and not-found scope by bidder.
Clarification package
Copy/paste questions to resolve before award.
Decision record
True-cost logic, assumptions, and verification gates.
Fictional Tenant Improvement — Flooring Bid Package
Prairie Commercial Interiors appears strongest after scope adjustment. Confirm warranty transfer, floor-leveling allowance terms, and schedule commitments before award.
Use this grid as the bidder clarification agenda before signing.
| Scope item | Northline Flooring Co. | Prairie Commercial Interiors | Summit Build Services | Est. impact | Review action |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Existing flooring removal and disposalDemolition / Disposal | Included$6,200 | Included$6,800 | Excluded | $6,400 | Confirm scope |
| Floor leveling / substrate prep allowancePreparation | Not found | Included$4,200 | Unclear | $4,200 | Confirm scope |
| After-hours / weekend turnover workSchedule / General Conditions | Excluded | Included$3,600 | Not found | $3,600 | Confirm scope |
| Moisture testing and mitigation if requiredPreparation | Excluded | Included$1,000 | Excluded | $1,000 | Confirm scope |
| Warranty, closeout docs, and maintenance instructionsCloseout | Not found | Included$0 | Included$0 | $600 | Confirm scope |
| Vendor | Bid amount | True cost | Δ vs Strongest | Scope coverage | Grade | Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prairie Commercial Interiors | $71,850 | $72,850 | — | 94% | A 91 | Low |
| Northline Flooring Co. | $68,400 | $74,200 | +$1,350 | 74% | B 78 | Med |
| Summit Build Services | $76,400 | $81,200 | +$8,350 | 76% | C 73 | High |
Prairie Commercial Interiors
Strongest current bid after scope adjustment at 88% confidence. Bid $71,850, true cost $72,850 — pending direct verification of scope, exclusions, schedule, and commercial terms.
Strengths
- Most complete scope with demolition, prep, floor leveling, disposal, and warranty language stated clearly.
- Not the lowest quote, but lowest true-cost position once missing/excluded items are normalized.
Concerns
- Warranty term is stated, but manufacturer warranty transfer should be confirmed.
- Can you confirm manufacturer warranty transfer and closeout documentation are included?
- Is the $4,200 floor-leveling allowance a not-to-exceed amount or subject to reconciliation?
| Item | Severity | Est. cost |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturer warranty transfer confirmation | minor | $1,000 |
| True-cost adjustment | $1,000 | |
Northline Flooring Co.
Bid $68,400, true cost $74,200. Carries $5,800 of unpriced scope that lifts the true cost above the headline.
Strengths
- Lowest sticker price, but several commercial terms and substrate assumptions need clarification before it is apples-to-apples.
- Useful budget anchor if the exclusions can be converted into firm inclusions.
Concerns
- Bid excludes after-hours work but project schedule calls for weekend turnover.
- Moisture mitigation is noted as “by others,” which could create change-order exposure.
- Your bid excludes after-hours work. What is the added cost to meet a weekend turnover schedule?
- Does your price include floor leveling if the slab is outside manufacturer tolerance?
| Item | Severity | Est. cost |
|---|---|---|
| Floor leveling / substrate prep allowance | critical | $4,200 |
| After-hours / weekend turnover work | critical | $3,600 |
| Warranty and maintenance closeout docs | minor | $600 |
| True-cost adjustment | $5,800 | |
Summit Build Services
Bid $76,400, true cost $81,200. Carries $4,800 of unpriced scope that lifts the true cost above the headline.
Strengths
- Highest true-cost position after adjusting for allowances and missing schedule language.
- May still be viable, but the bid needs a tighter material specification and payment-term review.
Concerns
- Allowance-based material pricing makes final cost less certain.
- Payment schedule requires a 50% deposit before material order.
- Your bid excludes demolition/disposal. What is the cost to include it in your scope?
- Can the 50% deposit be revised to a smaller deposit with progress billing?
| Item | Severity | Est. cost |
|---|---|---|
| Existing flooring disposal excluded | critical | $6,400 |
| After-hours schedule not stated | major | $3,600 |
| True-cost adjustment | $4,800 | |
Methodology
Each bid’s true cost is its quoted amount plus the estimated value of any in-scope work the bid omits or excludes, plus a risk contingency where reliability signals warrant it. Scope coverage is the share of the combined scope of work each vendor’s bid addresses. Grades and the overall score reflect the weighted blend above. Market coverage for this comparison: 5 of 5 line categories had reference pricing.
This report is AI-assisted decision support based on the bid documents provided. It may miss or misread items in unclear, incomplete, scanned, or lump-sum proposals. Confirm scope, exclusions, pricing, schedule, insurance, bonding, code requirements, and contract terms directly with each bidder before award. EstimateHawk does not certify estimates, verify bidder qualifications, or make the final award decision.
Want this for a real bid package?
The contractor pilot is designed for 2–5 bids on one focused trade or package. Larger RFQs and multi-trade comparisons can request a custom review.
View contractor pilot