How to build a subcontractor bid package the right way

By Sean & Doug Reitmeyer — GCExperts. Originally posted on Skool: .

I want to walk through something that almost nobody teaches properly — and that’s how to send bid packages to your subcontractors once you win (or are bidding) a federal job. Because if you do this wrong, your subs will: - Inflate their numbers - Add contingency you don’t need - Or refuse to bid altogether If you do it right, you get clean numbers and real cooperation. Think Like an Old Copy Machine Remember the old copy machines? If there was something on a page you didn’t want copied, you’d put a blank sheet over it before hitting copy. That’s exactly how I build subcontractor bid packages. I don’t send them the entire 50-page government solicitation. I cut it down to: - The scope that applies to them - The relevant drawings - The relevant specifications - The timeline That’s it. I’m not hiding anything. I’m removing noise. Why This Matters Let’s say you’re sending a plumbing scope. If the plumber sees: - Environmental clauses - Roofing sections - Electrical specs - Unrelated federal compliance language He doesn’t know what it is. So what does he do? He adds money “just in case.” That’s human nature. Instead, I send him exactly what he needs to price his portion of the job — nothing more, nothing less. You Are Building Your Own Bid Package The government gives you a bid package. But I build my own subcontractor bid package from it. I cut it from 50 pages down to 2. Clear. Direct. Actionable. And I talk through it. Sometimes I even say: “I know this looks vague — let’s talk through what they’re trying to accomplish.” That conversation builds trust. Handling Site Uncertainty the Smart Way Subs will say: “I need to see the site.” Fine. I’ll ask: “If you did go to the site, what are the two likely scenarios?” Option A: $0 impact Option B: +$3,000 “Okay. Suppose I just give you the $3,000.” Now we’ve: - Eliminated friction - Built goodwill - Locked in cooperation Win-win. Certified Payroll? Don’t Panic.