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Bid evaluation tool

Five steps to a go or no-go before you spend a week on a proposal.

Start evaluating
An electrician in a yellow hard hat working on a wall-mounted electrical box

What it’s for

Most contractors have bid on something they were never going to win. This tool is the filter that comes first. It walks you through hard stops, your own readiness, the opportunity itself and the score you need, then gives you a verdict and a one-page PDF to keep on file.

I built it as the job aid for a course on evaluating bid opportunities, so learners could use it on a real opportunity the same week. This version has the client's branding taken out.

Evaluate an opportunity

Bid Evaluation: Five-Step Decision Framework
Evaluate a real bid opportunity. Work through each step in order. You'll get a verdict and a one-page PDF summary to file or share.
Step 0 of 5 complete0%
1
Check for hard stops
Disqualifying factors you can't resolve before the deadline
Done
A single hard stop ends the evaluation. If any of the following are true and can't be resolved before the bid deadline, the answer is no.
Does your business hold the required certifications and safety credentials for this scope?
Do you have sufficient bond capacity for this contract, if required?
Do you have staff available to mobilize within the required timeline?
Does this scope fall within your core capabilities?
2
Score your internal readiness
Capacity, compliance, financials, past performance
Done
Rate each dimension from 1 (low) to 5 (strong). Be honest. Optimistic scoring defeats the purpose.
Capacity: staff, equipment, bandwidth
Compliance: certs, insurance, safety programs
Financials: cash flow, payment terms, bonding
Past performance: relevant, documented history
Internal readiness score
0 / 20
3
Score the opportunity
Scope fit, competitive position, margin, strategic alignment, relationship
Done
Rate each dimension from 1 (weak) to 5 (strong). Consider this specific opportunity, not your general capabilities.
Scope fit: work matches your core offering
Competitive position: realistic shot at this price point
Margin viability: profitable at the likely price
Strategic alignment: moves you toward your target market
Relationship context: prior connection with the buyer
Opportunity score
0 / 25
4
Apply your threshold
The minimum combined score you require before committing to a proposal
Done
Combined score is out of 45. Set your threshold before looking at the total. It should reflect your standards, not your excitement about this bid.
What is your go/no-go threshold?
5
Record your decision and next steps
Confirm assumptions or note your reason for passing
Done
Complete steps 1 through 4 first.
Your Verdict
Download your evaluation
A one-page PDF to file or share

Every bid decision you document makes the next one faster and sharper.

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