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Bid terms glossary
Bid leveling
Adjusting bids so every one is priced on the same scope, so the totals truly compare.
Also called or written as: bid tabulation, bid tab, scope leveling
What it means
Bid leveling is the process of putting competing bids on equal footing. You list every scope item, note what each bidder included or excluded, and add a cost for each gap so you can compare apples to apples.
The result is a leveled total for each bidder: their base bid plus the cost of everything they left out.
Why it matters when leveling bids
The lowest headline number often isn't the lowest real price. Leveling shows which bid is actually cheapest for the whole job and gives you a list of questions to ask before award.
Do it the same way every time: one checklist, one status per line per bidder (Included, Excluded, Not stated or Add $), and your own cost to cover each gap.
Example wording
Example only
- “Bidder A: base $[amount] + excluded permits $[amount] + excluded testing $[amount] = leveled $[amount].”
- “Line 14 (winter protection): Bidder A included, Bidder B excluded, Bidder C not stated.”
- “Scope review meeting to confirm exclusions before award.”
Made-up wording to show the pattern. Not taken from any real bid. Bracketed items are placeholders.
Level your bids with the free sheet → Get the scope letter template
Related terms: Exclusion · Scope of work · Alternate · All terms
General guidance, not legal advice. How a term works on your project depends on your contract documents.