Bid / No-Bid Scorecard
Score a job opportunity before you spend hours bidding. 10 weighted factors to a go/no-go threshold.
Total score
60.0 / 100
BID WITH CAUTION
Proceed only if you can raise your margin to offset elevated risk.
10 weighted factors
Owner / GC reputation and payment history
Weight: 15 · Max contribution: 15
Score
9.0
Type of work in our wheelhouse
Weight: 15 · Max contribution: 15
Score
9.0
Project schedule realistic vs our capacity
Weight: 10 · Max contribution: 10
Score
6.0
Margin potential (rough estimate vs ideal)
Weight: 12 · Max contribution: 12
Score
7.2
Plans and specs quality
Weight: 8 · Max contribution: 8
Score
4.8
Bonding / insurance requirements within capacity
Weight: 8 · Max contribution: 8
Score
4.8
Location and travel distance
Weight: 6 · Max contribution: 6
Score
3.6
Competition level (number of likely bidders)
Weight: 6 · Max contribution: 6
Score
3.6
Strategic value (new relationship, new market segment)
Weight: 10 · Max contribution: 10
Score
6.0
Risk factors (unusual terms, liquidated damages, retention)
Weight: 10 · Max contribution: 10
Score
6.0
Methodology: each factor scores rating (1-5) times weight divided by 5. Maximum total is 100 because weights sum to 100. Recommendation buckets: 80-100 strong bid, 65-79 bid, 50-64 bid with caution, under 50 no-bid.
Estimates only. Adjust weights to your firm's strategy.
Frequently Asked Questions
How should I weight factors for my firm?
The default weights here total 100 and reflect a general contractor view that prioritizes payment history, wheelhouse fit, and margin potential. If you are a specialty trade, you may want to lean harder on plans-and-specs quality (clear scope means accurate bid) and bonding capacity. If you are growing into a new market, raise the strategic-value weight. Edit the FACTORS list in the source if you want different defaults, or simply rate the factors that matter more to you higher and ignore the ones that don't.
When should I ignore a "go" signal?
If you are at or above capacity, even a strong-bid score is dangerous because you will be forced to choose between turning down later opportunities or stretching your crews thin and missing schedule. Also override on counterparty risk: a perfect-looking job with a known slow-pay owner or unbonded GC is still a no-bid regardless of total score. Treat the scorecard as a sanity check, not an autopilot.
Does this replace gut feel?
No. The point is to force you to write down what your gut already knows so you can see the trade-offs side by side. If your gut says no but the scorecard says go, you are probably weighting a factor that isn't on the list (relationship with the estimator, prior bad experience with the owner, a partner who is stretched). Add a custom note to capture it and trust your instinct.
What is a typical industry hit rate on bids?
Hit rates vary widely by sector. Negotiated private work runs 30-50%. Open public bids often run 10-20%, sometimes less when bid lists are long. If your hit rate is above 50% you are probably leaving margin on the table; if it is below 10% you are wasting estimating hours. A good scorecard discipline raises your hit rate by filtering out low-fit jobs before bid prep starts.