What is a bid tabulation and how can it be used after a public works bid opening?

A bid tabulation is a document that lists all the bids received for an Invitation for Bid (IFB), including the names of the bidders and their proposed prices. After a public works bid opening, you can use the bid tabulation to compare your price against the prices submitted by your competitors.

Since your bid was for a county public works project, the specific rules for bid tabulations and their availability will be governed by the county's procurement code and procedures, not the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR). Many state and local agencies conduct public bid openings for construction projects and then make the bid tabulation public. You can use this information to see where your price ranked among all the offers.

Reviewing bid tabulations from past projects, like the old ones you found, helps you understand the pricing landscape for similar work. This can inform your future pricing strategies and help you make more competitive bids. It also helps you identify common competitors for your NAICS code and the types of contracts they pursue.