If you want to succeed in the construction, electrical, plumbing, or road repair business, finding reliable repeat customers, with substantial orders, is the best way to do it. You might become a preferred contractor for architects and developers. You may have considered bidding on public works projects, but do not know how to go about it. Municipalities can be great sources of business, but you have to know what agencies are looking for and how the decision makers think.
To begin with you need to understand the meaning of a responsive bid. Cities judge bids submitted on or before the deadline, with all information included, to be responsive. Many bids are thrown out because contractors didn't follow the directions or pay enough attention. The majority of cities hang bidding clocks on their walls. These are the clocks they use to determine when a bidding cycle is ended. You must submit a bid in time according to their timepiece, not yours. If you are late, or drop your bid at the wrong office, the bid is automatically non-responsive.
In addition to your sealed bid, you need to provide whatever documentation the agency requires. This might include a bid guarantee. You may have to acknowledge that you attended all mandatory pre-bid meetings. The agency will check this. In some states you also have to submit a completed bid responsibility questionnaire.
You must show that you are a responsible bidder. Proving this can include a number of things. You must be a registered contractor with a tax number. You have to have current workers comp and industrial insurance. You can't be disqualified under any of the rules and regulations of the particular municipality where you are bidding. In many states you have to swear you haven't violated any labor laws.
The city will go through and verify all this information. They can do it in a number of ways. The state's website will give them all the registered contractors with tax numbers. It will show whether or not the contractor is currently insured as required. The website will list all disbarred contractors. The municipality will check with the Department of Revenue to see if you are registered.
There can be supplemental criteria added to the award process. Cities may not accept bids from contractors with state tax delinquencies, wage violations, or federal debarment. Contractors who have violated bidding regulations or were previously terminated for cause can be eliminated from the process. Municipalities can make it a requirement that contractors have previous experience with similar jobs.
Once the bids are open, the staff goes through them and selects the lowest responsive bid. As the contractor you will be notified of your selection usually within thirty to forty-five days after bid closing. Once you have been notified you will have ten to twenty business days to submit your signed contract along with your performance and payment bonds, and certificate of insurance.
Government contracts are one way to ensure you have steady business. Not all contractors are interested in taking the time to go through what can be a laborious process. If you decide it's worth it, you should take your time to make sure you submit a complete bid. Those who don't are put in the non-responsive category and eliminated.
To begin with you need to understand the meaning of a responsive bid. Cities judge bids submitted on or before the deadline, with all information included, to be responsive. Many bids are thrown out because contractors didn't follow the directions or pay enough attention. The majority of cities hang bidding clocks on their walls. These are the clocks they use to determine when a bidding cycle is ended. You must submit a bid in time according to their timepiece, not yours. If you are late, or drop your bid at the wrong office, the bid is automatically non-responsive.
In addition to your sealed bid, you need to provide whatever documentation the agency requires. This might include a bid guarantee. You may have to acknowledge that you attended all mandatory pre-bid meetings. The agency will check this. In some states you also have to submit a completed bid responsibility questionnaire.
You must show that you are a responsible bidder. Proving this can include a number of things. You must be a registered contractor with a tax number. You have to have current workers comp and industrial insurance. You can't be disqualified under any of the rules and regulations of the particular municipality where you are bidding. In many states you have to swear you haven't violated any labor laws.
The city will go through and verify all this information. They can do it in a number of ways. The state's website will give them all the registered contractors with tax numbers. It will show whether or not the contractor is currently insured as required. The website will list all disbarred contractors. The municipality will check with the Department of Revenue to see if you are registered.
There can be supplemental criteria added to the award process. Cities may not accept bids from contractors with state tax delinquencies, wage violations, or federal debarment. Contractors who have violated bidding regulations or were previously terminated for cause can be eliminated from the process. Municipalities can make it a requirement that contractors have previous experience with similar jobs.
Once the bids are open, the staff goes through them and selects the lowest responsive bid. As the contractor you will be notified of your selection usually within thirty to forty-five days after bid closing. Once you have been notified you will have ten to twenty business days to submit your signed contract along with your performance and payment bonds, and certificate of insurance.
Government contracts are one way to ensure you have steady business. Not all contractors are interested in taking the time to go through what can be a laborious process. If you decide it's worth it, you should take your time to make sure you submit a complete bid. Those who don't are put in the non-responsive category and eliminated.
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