Do you show the actual bid date on your bid invitations and transmittals?

Yes, we believe true information should be given to subs and suppliers, and allow you to govern your estimating load accordingly. Some general contractors will show an earlier "bid date" perhaps thinking it "fools" you into getting your bid in on time.

I was told by another GC I was low with them on bid day, why didn't I get the job with you?

Certainly asking a GC how you stood on bid day is useful feedback for you. We find, however, that sub bids to GC's can vary from GC to GC for a variety of reasons. Thus, "feedback" info can be useful but often does not give a complete picture.

What if I submit a bid that obviously must be in error?

We are always looking out for bids that seem unreasonably low. Short sighted thinking would say this is an opportunity for us to be that much more competitive but this would be doing a disservice to the bidding subcontractor ultimately. We will try to make contact prior to the bid deadline and ask that the bid be reviewed because it seems unreasonably low. When that bidder is unavailable, or we receive a bid very late, we are put in a tough position and so might he be.

If I am low bidder will I get the job?

We hope that bidders would understand that this can not be answered with a simple yes. We too rely to a great extent on being the low bidder for our success and therefore want to utilize those bids if at all possible. Bid day decisions have to be made in a matter of seconds, whereas a thorough scope review afterwards can uncover incomplete bids. A corrected bid may not be low anymore. Conversely, a higher bidder may have too much scope and his corrected bid could now be low.

During the buyout process we involve project management; past performance is important to them. We may elect to choose another bidder for this reason also.

Lastly, we may be sent an unsolicited revised bid from a bidder that improves his position.

Late bids are dealt with on an individual basis.

In any scenario each bid is held in confidence. We might be asked "what's the number to beat", but that is obviously betraying the low bidder's trust and we will not do that.

Can I get drawings from R.W. Setterlin?

On a job by job basis R.W. Setterlin will, free of charge to subs and suppliers, purchase extra drawings for bidding sets.

Can I email my bid?

Yes, but we must get it the day before. On bid day we are not in our individual office and therefore not checking email.