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.
Municipalities are looking for responsive bids. Your bid won't be considered responsive unless it is submitted within the allotted time and includes all the information asked for. This is mostly a matter of taking your time and following directions to the tee. Your deadline is determined by the bidding clocks that hang on the walls of agency offices. No other clocks matter. If you don't get your bid in on time or leave it at the wrong office, you're non-responsive.
All the additional documentation the municipality requests has to be included along with your sealed bid. This usually includes a bid guarantee. Acknowledgement of your attendance at all mandatory pre-bid meetings might be part of the package. A complete bid responsibility questionnaire may also have to be included.
Another prerequisite for getting a contract is to show you are an responsible bidder. You must have a tax number making you a registered contractor. You have to show you have up to date industrial insurance and workers comp. Violating labor laws and being disqualified under the rules and regulations of the city will preclude you from winning the bid.
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.
Some agencies will apply supplemental criteria to the bid award process. They can void applicants with outstanding state tax delinquencies, federal debarment, and wage violations. If you have previously violated public bidding regulations or been terminated for cause, your bid could be thrown out. Some agencies also require that you've got previous experience with a similar project.
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 can be very profitable sources of business. To get the contracts, you have to know what you're doing. Mistakes nearly always end up in the non-responsive category. Experienced contractors who follow directions to the letter are the ones who get the jobs.
Municipalities are looking for responsive bids. Your bid won't be considered responsive unless it is submitted within the allotted time and includes all the information asked for. This is mostly a matter of taking your time and following directions to the tee. Your deadline is determined by the bidding clocks that hang on the walls of agency offices. No other clocks matter. If you don't get your bid in on time or leave it at the wrong office, you're non-responsive.
All the additional documentation the municipality requests has to be included along with your sealed bid. This usually includes a bid guarantee. Acknowledgement of your attendance at all mandatory pre-bid meetings might be part of the package. A complete bid responsibility questionnaire may also have to be included.
Another prerequisite for getting a contract is to show you are an responsible bidder. You must have a tax number making you a registered contractor. You have to show you have up to date industrial insurance and workers comp. Violating labor laws and being disqualified under the rules and regulations of the city will preclude you from winning the bid.
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.
Some agencies will apply supplemental criteria to the bid award process. They can void applicants with outstanding state tax delinquencies, federal debarment, and wage violations. If you have previously violated public bidding regulations or been terminated for cause, your bid could be thrown out. Some agencies also require that you've got previous experience with a similar project.
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 can be very profitable sources of business. To get the contracts, you have to know what you're doing. Mistakes nearly always end up in the non-responsive category. Experienced contractors who follow directions to the letter are the ones who get the jobs.
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