Before a construction project starts, there’s something called the bidding process, which is when project owners hire a general contractor based on the contractor’s project proposal or project bid. But how do construction contractors present their bids to a potential client?
The answer is this construction proposal template. It outlines all the details clients want to know and gives you the space to answer questions and win their business. Use our free construction proposal template for Word and get that contract for your next construction project.
Better yet, open the construction proposal template in ProjectManager. Making a proposal is a project in itself, and with ProjectManager, you can assemble all the elements of your proposal together with your team in one online location. Create tasks and phases, attach files to the project, set due dates, schedule reminders and update progress along the way. Get started with ProjectManager for free and make a better construction proposal.
What Is a Construction Proposal?
A construction proposal, or bid, is used in the construction bidding process when trying to win business. It includes detailed project information, such as quotes from suppliers that give an idea of how much the raw materials for the construction project will cost. There are also quotes from subcontractors for the work they’ll do in the construction project.
Free Construction Proposal Template for Word
This free construction proposal template captures all the information of a construction bid in an outline that is filled in by the general contractor and sent to the project owner seeking bids. There is a place for the client to sign if they accept the bid, which then acts as a legally binding contract—though in some cases, a signature can be required as an acknowledgment of receipt.
What’s Included in this Construction Bid Template?
This free construction bid template outlines the most important elements of any construction proposal. The following are its components.
1. Contact Information
The first thing is to identify the client and put your contact information with theirs at the top of the document. There are fields for both of your names, addresses, phone and emails as well as the contact person at each organization. In fact, our fully customizable construction proposal template has room on top to place your company logo, adding to a professional presentation.
2. Scope of Work
Now comes the meat of your construction proposal. For a great construction bid, you must first outline the scope of work (SOW). Describe the construction work that is going to be done in the project, detailing tasks, deliverables and phases. Also include the equipment, labor and materials that will be used. You can even attach a construction plan. Note the certifications required for the work, as well as an annual inspection, bond and insurance information.
3. Bill of Quantities
A bill of quantities is a document that describes in detail the materials and labor that will be required for the construction of a building. It’s often included in construction proposals as it provides transparency into the cost estimation process and helps ensure that there will be sufficient resources for the execution of the scope of work of the project.
We’ve created a free bill of quantities template to facilitate this process.
4. Financial Information
The next section will go into the costs and payment schedule of the job. The costs will include the materials, supplies, machinery, other equipment and, of course, labor. You’ll want to add your profit margin here. There should be a schedule of payments, how and when the client will pay you for the work you’re doing.
5. Project Schedule
The construction schedule is outlined next. This will include the proposed start date for the work as well as when you forecast the job will be completed. You’ll want to add the milestones, such as when one phase ends and another begins, but other dates such as approvals, easements and permitting.
Related: Free Construction Schedule Template
6. Relevant Authorities
The relevant authorities are the roles and responsibilities of those in your crew but anyone who has authority in the construction project. That includes those at the local municipalities, any affiliates and partners on the job.
7. Exceptions
You’ll want to have a section that covers exclusions to the scope of work, which are things that will not be done by the general contractor. This is where you’ll explain the work done by other parties, such as subcontractors and other trades. Include the warranties outside the scope of your agreement.
8. Terms and Conditions
The terms and conditions of the relationship if contracted as outlined in this section. This details the rights and responsibilities of both parties. This is a good place to place an expiration date for the construction project proposal. You don’t want to have it open-ended.
9. Signature Line
Then, there’s the acceptance of the proposal. If the project owner finds the construction bid to their satisfaction, they can sign it (there’s a signature line below with a place to date the document) and return it to you before the expiration date. This can act as a contract or the foundation to a legally binding document between the two parties to the agreed-upon terms and conditions.
Why Use a Construction Proposal Template?
A construction proposal is a critical construction management document because it’s used to acquire work. A bid is not that different from a sales call, only in this case, you have a motivated project owner. You need to convince this potential client your construction firm is the right one for the job.
The project proposal outlines the scope of the project, including costs. In many cases, this is the first step to the legally binding contract. Therefore, you want to make sure you include accurately detailed, pertinent info to avoid any costly misunderstandings later on if you’re awarded the job. To beat the competition, you have to have the best bid, one that meets their needs and provides you with a profit. Construction bidding is a complicated process and the last thing you need to do is waste time.
A construction proposal is made up of project scope, costs and more. Fortunately, construction project management software efficiently organizes all that data. ProjectManager helps you present a competitive project proposal in a timely manner. You and your team can choose from five different project views when executing projects. Switch to the kanban board to easily organize tasks and track status via columns. Try our construction proposal template today with a free trial.
Who Is This Construction Bid Template For?
This construction proposal form can be used by:
- General building contractors: A clear construction bid template can help you win projects.
- Project owners: Having a standardized form for the construction bidding process saves time.
- Construction project managers: Any site manager must be familiarized with the construction bidding process.
- Construction companies: Construction management templates help firms streamline their processes.
Depending on the size of the business, there may be others who crunch the numbers and fill out the actual construction proposal template, but it will always stop last on the desk of the business owner for approval.
There could potentially be many stakeholders involved in the process of putting together a construction proposal template. Whether it’s the owner or an assistant putting together the draft of the construction proposal, they will seek guidance from members of the construction team, accountants, architects, et al., in order to make sure the proposal is as accurate as possible.
Using ProjectManager to Plan Construction Projects
Once your construction project proposal has been approved, all the promises must be fulfilled within the time and for the money you’ve agreed upon. That means you need to build a viable construction project plan. ProjectManager is award-winning construction project management software that helps you organize your tasks, crew and projects for greater efficiency.
Lay Out Your Project on a Gantt Chart
Construction projects are notoriously complex, involving the coordination of contractors, subcontractors, vendors, suppliers, permits and much more. Getting all those activities together to show the entire project from start to finish can be done by using our online Gantt chart. The Gantt chart will calculate the critical path in the project instantly with a click of a button. Then set a construction schedule baseline once you’ve finalized the activities and resources for your schedule.
Track Progress in Real-Time
More than just planning a construction project, we have features to monitor performance. Real-time dashboards give you a high-level view, automatically calculating data and displaying it in easy-to-read graphs and charts showing time, costs and more. One-click reporting goes into greater detail. There are resource management tools, timesheets and so much more to make your construction project a success.
More Free Construction Project Management Templates
Our free construction proposal template is one of the many templates available for download on our site. There are templates for every phase of your project, from initiation to closure. We picked some of our most popular construction project management templates below:
Construction Estimate Template
When filling in our free construction proposal template for Word, you’ll want to make sure you add the most accurate figures possible when forecasting the cost of your build. The free construction estimate template helps you calculate all the labor and material costs for the project.
Construction Daily Report Template
Once you’ve started to execute the project, you need a tool to record what’s happening on the job site. There’s a lot going on, and it’s changing every day, which is why our free construction daily report template is essential to capture all the activities that occur each day.
Punch List Template
You’re not done with your construction project until you’ve done a walkthrough with the customer. At this point, you’ll find items that might not be on the contract but still need to be done before you can get paid. The free punch list template is used to properly close out the project.
Related Content
Our site has free project management templates to download and tons of blogs, tutorial videos, guides and ebooks. If you’re looking to get more information on anything to do with construction project management, you’ll find it. We’ve gathered some of the more relevant pieces on the site, which are listed below.
- Construction Contracts: Types, Best Practices & Mistakes
- 7 Tips for Better Construction Daily Reports & Daily Logs
- How to Make a Construction Schedule
- Making a Construction Estimate: 5 Tips for Better Outcomes
- Best Construction Scheduling Software
- Construction Bidding Process
ProjectManager is cloud-based software delivering live data for you to make better decisions. It helps you plan, monitor and report on your construction projects. Keep in real-time contact with your crew on the site, balance their workload and give them collaborative tools for greater productivity, all with one tool. Try our software today by taking this free 30-day trial.