Pricing one project for several GCs

When several GCs invite you to the same project, start from one takeoff and one cost estimate, then adjust each GC's proposal only for differences that are real: the scope that GC's bid form assigns to flooring, its subcontract terms and payment history, the alternates it asks for, and your read on who will win. Keep every GC's number confidential, and track exactly which version went to whom.

By Michael Reddy, IntelBid

After this lesson you can

Build every GC's proposal from one estimate
Decide which differences justify a different price
Keep versions straight and each GC's number confidential

Start from one estimate

The drawings are the same for every GC, so the takeoff and the cost build should be too. Differences between GCs are adjustments on top of that one estimate — which means when an addendum lands, you re-price once and every GC's proposal follows. The basics of why one project reaches you several times are in how commercial bidding works.

Which differences justify a different price?

Difference	Example	How to adjust
Scope split	GC A puts base and prep in flooring; GC B carries base with another trade	Different scope, different price — and different inclusions
Alternates and unit prices	Only one GC's bid form asks for a moisture mitigation alternate	Price only what each form asks for
Subcontract terms	Higher retainage, pay-if-paid, or a long payment cycle	Price the cost of carrying the money — see pay-if-paid
Payment history	One GC pays in 30 days, another in 90	Carry more for slow payers
Relationship and odds	A GC that awards fairly and repeats work vs. one that shops numbers	Sharpen for the first; hold firm for the second
Schedule and phasing	Different proposed schedules or phasing plans	Mobilizations and labor productivity change

Two GCs, one projectWorked example · illustrative numbers

Base price from your estimate: $97,145
GC A: Wants floor prep allowance included (+$2,400)
GC B: Wall base by another trade (−$6,300); pays in about 90 days
Carrying cost for slow pay (your choice): 2%

GC A: $97,145 + $2,400 = $99,545.
GC B scope: $97,145 − $6,300 = $90,845.
GC B carrying cost: $90,845 × 2% = $1,816.90 → $92,662.

Two honest prices for the same building: $99,545 to GC A and $92,662 to GC B — each with inclusions that say why. Illustrative figures.

Never share one GC's number with another

Telling GC B what GC A's number was is bid shopping in reverse, and it gets around. Send separate emails, never copy competing GCs on the same message, and keep each proposal file to its own GC.

Keep the versions straight

Name every file by GC and version
A proposal file should say which job, which GC and which version it is — no “final_final_v2.pdf”.
Log what went where
For each GC: the version, the total, the date and time sent, and who received it.
Re-send to everyone after an addendum
When a change affects the price, update every GC still bidding — not just the first one who asks.
Note what you learn
If a GC tells you they carried your number, or who won, record it against that GC's bid.

Should a subcontractor give every GC the same price?

Not necessarily. Prices can legitimately differ when scope splits, alternates, subcontract terms, payment history or schedules differ between GCs. What must stay the same is honesty and confidentiality.

Is it bid shopping to give GCs different prices?

No. Bid shopping is sharing one party's price with competitors to drive prices down. Pricing each GC's actual scope and terms is normal estimating.

How do you track proposals sent to multiple GCs?

Keep one estimate for the project and a record per GC of the proposal version, total, date sent and recipient, and update every GC still bidding when an addendum changes the price.

Key points

One takeoff and cost estimate; per-GC adjustments on top.
Only real differences in scope, terms, history or schedule change the price.
Separate emails, clear file names, and a log of what went to whom.

In IntelBid · Proposal builder

One bid, a proposal per GC

In IntelBid every GC invited to a project sits on the same bid. Build the lines once, adjust a GC's version where its scope differs, and generate a separate proposal and email draft for each GC — using the scope calculator to price any line from crew days and material cost.

Try it in IntelBid

A 2-minute guided tour on a sample project — nothing touches real data. New to IntelBid? You'll start a free trial first.

IntelBid Learn by email

New modules as they're published. Confirm your email and we'll send a $100 credit toward your IntelBid membership.

About the author. Michael Reddy builds IntelBid, bid management software for commercial flooring subcontractors. These lessons come from the bid desk: how the work is priced, won and paid for.