Federal & Public Construction Bid Pricing Workbook
Instant download (.zip with 2 .xlsx files) · Excel for Windows & Mac · No macros
Price government construction bids with confidence, from quantity takeoff to the SF 1442 bid schedule, in one Excel workbook.
Losing a federal construction bid hurts. Winning one you priced wrong hurts more. Missing Davis-Bacon fringe, an unpriced bond, a sub quote that left out half the scope, or a CLIN total that doesn't tie to the base bid can each turn a "win" into a loss, or get your bid thrown out.
This workbook was built by Allen Solutions Ltd, a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business with 30+ years of federal contracting experience. It walks you through a public construction bid in the order you actually build one, then checks your work before bid day.
What's inside
Bid / No-Bid scorecard: 10 weighted criteria plus deal-breakers (bonding, limitations on subcontracting, scope fit), so you only chase bids you can win and perform.
Project Info with automatic alerts: bid due countdown, required bid guarantee amount, liquidated damages exposure, a performance and payment bond flag over $150,000, and a magnitude-range check.
Quantity takeoff by CSI MasterFormat division: quantity, labor productivity, material and other direct costs on every line.
Davis-Bacon labor rates: wage-determination base plus fringe, payroll burden, overtime, loaded rates, and a check that flags any class paid below the WD.
Materials and equipment: waste %, sales/use tax, freight, owned vs. rented equipment, mob/demob.
Subcontractor bid leveling: up to 3 quotes per scope with adjustments for exclusions. The lowest compliant bid is carried automatically, and plugs are flagged.
Duration-based general conditions: superintendent, QC, safety, trailer, temp utilities and more scale with contract duration.
Bonds & insurance: tiered bond-rate table (enter your surety's rates) and insurance as a % of the bid.
Markups: contingency, escalation to the midpoint of construction, home-office overhead, profit, subcontract markup and rounding.
One-page Bid Summary: cost per SF and margin check, 11 automatic green/red/amber checks, a limitations-on-subcontracting estimate, and a cost chart.
CLIN-format bid schedule: allocate the base bid across CLINs and tie it out to the penny. Alternates and unit prices roll into option CLINs.
Bid-day checklist: SF 1442 items, amendment acknowledgments, bid bond, reps & certs, SAM registration and submission.
What you download: a .zip file with two Excel workbooks (.xlsx): a blank workbook ready for your next bid, with a Start Here tab that walks you through each step, plus a filled-in example bid so you can see how everything works.
Who it's for
Small and veteran-owned general contractors and specialty contractors bidding federal, state or municipal construction
Estimators moving from private work into sealed public bids (IFB / SF 1442)
Consultants and bid-prep services who need a consistent, reviewable pricing format
FAQ
What do I need to run it?
Microsoft Excel for Windows or Mac (Microsoft 365, 2019 or 2021 recommended). There are no macros, add-ins or internet connection required.
Does it work in Google Sheets or LibreOffice?
It was built for Excel and tested to calculate with zero errors in LibreOffice Calc. Google Sheets will usually open it, but formatting and drop-downs may look different.
Does it look up Davis-Bacon wage rates for me?
No. You enter the classifications and rates from the wage determination in your solicitation (from SAM.gov). The workbook then checks that your wages and fringes meet those minimums.
Can I use it for state, municipal or private bids?
Yes. Leave the federal-only items (set-aside, limitations on subcontracting, Davis-Bacon) set to "No" or N/A and the rest of the workbook works the same.
Is the bond calculation accurate for my company?
Bond premiums vary by surety and by contractor. Enter your surety's rate tiers and the workbook computes the premium on the full bid.
Can I reuse it?
Yes. Keep a clean copy of the workbook and use it for each new bid ("Save As" the project name). The license is for use within your own company.
Is this legal or financial advice?
No. It is an educational estimating tool. Always follow your solicitation, the FAR, your wage determination and your surety, and have your pricing reviewed by qualified people.
Refunds?
Because this is an instant digital download, all sales are final once the file has been downloaded. There are four exceptions: if your file is defective or corrupted, you received the wrong file, it was never delivered, or you were charged twice. Email allensolutionsllc746@gmail.com within 14 days of purchase and we will send a working replacement. If a replacement can't fix the problem, we will refund you in full. This doesn't affect your rights under applicable consumer protection law. See our Refund Policy for full details.
