Bid Qualify Checklist | Vernier Templates

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Bid Qualify Checklist · Aviat Group, LLC

Bid Qualify Checklist

Project:

Reviewed by:

Date:

Project / Opportunity

Estimated Bid Value

Bid Due Date

Owner / GC

Qualify Score

0 / 100

— UNANSWERED —

Category 1 · Owner / Client Quality0 / 25 pts

Do you know this owner or GC, or have credible references for them?

Unknown owners with no track record are high-risk. Slow payers sink jobs that look profitable on paper.

Yes — have worked with them or strong references No direct experience but credible reputation Unknown / no references available

10 pts

Is the project budget realistic for the scope?

An owner who has dramatically underestimated budget will blame the contractor when bids come in over. Know before you spend hours estimating.

Yes — budget is reasonable or confirmed funded Uncertain — no budget disclosed No — budget appears significantly underestimated

10 pts

Is the decision-maker identified and accessible?

Bidding through a committee with no clear decision-maker produces slow awards, scope drift, and low-price selection as the default.

Yes — clear single point of contact and decision-maker Committee decision — some clarity on process Unknown / bureaucratic / no access to decision-maker

5 pts

Category 2 · Scope & Documents0 / 25 pts

Are the bid documents complete enough to price accurately?

Incomplete documents create assumptions. Assumptions create scope gaps. Scope gaps become unpaid work.

Yes — 100% CDs or near-complete documents available Partial — enough to price with documented assumptions No — schematic or conceptual only

15 pts

Is the scope clearly within your primary trade and capabilities?

Bidding outside your expertise means higher risk, slower execution, and thinner margin. Specialization is a competitive advantage.

Yes — core scope, strong self-perform capability Mostly — some scope outside primary trade, manageable No — significant scope outside expertise

10 pts

Category 3 · Competitive Position0 / 25 pts

Do you have a genuine competitive advantage on this bid?

Self-perform capability, prior relationship, geographic advantage, specialized experience, or unique scope knowledge. If you don't have an edge, you're gambling on luck.

Yes — clear and defensible competitive advantage Some — modest advantage, competitive but not dominant No — level playing field or disadvantaged position

15 pts

How many competitors are expected to bid?

More than 5 qualified bidders on a private job is a margin bloodbath. Know the field before you invest the hours.

1–3 qualified bidders 4–5 bidders 6+ bidders or open / public bid

10 pts

Category 4 · Business & Strategic Fit0 / 25 pts

Do you have the capacity to execute this job well right now?

Winning a job you can't execute properly costs more than not winning it. Current backlog, crew availability, and PM bandwidth are all capacity constraints.

Yes — have available capacity at project start Tight — would need to hire or subcontract some scope No — currently at capacity, would be stretched thin

10 pts

Can you achieve your minimum gross margin floor on this job?

If winning requires going below your margin floor, that's a business decision that requires a documented reason — not a default reaction to competition.

Yes — at or above margin floor with normal assumptions Borderline — at margin floor, no cushion No — winning requires going below margin floor

10 pts

Does winning this project advance your strategic goals?

Relationship building, new market entry, portfolio development, or reference project value. If it doesn't move you forward strategically, it's just a number.

Yes — clear strategic value beyond revenue Somewhat — neutral strategic fit No — no strategic value, revenue only

5 pts

📋

Answer all 10 questions to see your go/no-go recommendation.

Score each question to receive a recommendation based on Vernier's bid qualify methodology.

Why Pursue (if going forward)

Key Risks / Watch Items

Estimating Hours Authorized

Final Decision & Approver