Got a Bid Proposal for a GC? Get Your Free Bid Score Before You Submit

You've done the takeoff. You've calculated your numbers. Your bid is written and ready to go.

But before you hit send—how do you know it's actually ready?

Most subcontractors don't. They submit and hope for the best. Then they wait for a response, or worse, a phone call asking questions they should have answered in the bid.

There's a better way.

The 30-Second Check Most Subs Skip

Here's what happens with most bids:

You finish writing it
You glance over it once
You send it
You find out it had problems when the GC calls (or doesn't)

The GC is reviewing your bid alongside five or ten others. They're looking for reasons to narrow down the list. Missing exclusions? Cut. Vague scope? Cut. Math doesn't add up? Cut.

You don't get a second chance to make a first impression.

What if you could see exactly what the GC will see—before they see it?

That's what a bid score gives you.

What Is a Bid Score?

A bid score is a 0-100 rating that tells you how ready your proposal is for GC review.

It's not about whether your price is right. It's about whether your bid is complete, clear, and professional.

Here's how the scoring breaks down:

Score	Rating	What It Means
90-100	GC-Ready	Your bid is complete and professional. Send it.
75-89	Review Recommended	Minor issues that could raise questions. Worth fixing.
60-74	High Risk	Significant gaps that will likely cause problems.
Below 60	Do Not Send	Critical issues. Fix these before submitting.

What Gets Checked?

Your bid score looks at four key areas:

1. Required Structure (40 points)

Does your bid include the basics?

GC contact and project info
Your trade and scope
Bid amount and date
Company information

2. Risk & Clarity (30 points)

Is your bid clear and complete?

Stated assumptions
Listed exclusions
Specific quantities
Spec references

3. Pricing Sanity (20 points)

Does your pricing make sense?

Are numbers in a reasonable range?
Does the math add up?
Are there obvious errors?

4. Professionalism (10 points)

Does your bid look professional?

Consistent formatting
No contradictions
Proper units
Clean presentation

What Happens When You Submit a Risky Bid?

Scenario 1: The Callback

The GC calls two days later. "Hey, I'm looking at your bid. Does this include primer? What about the closets? Is this Level 4 or Level 5?"

Now you're backtracking, clarifying, and hoping they haven't already moved on to someone else.

Scenario 2: The Pass

You never hear back. Your bid went in the "maybe" pile, then the "no" pile. You'll never know why because GCs don't have time to explain why they passed.

Scenario 3: The Dispute

You won the job, but now you're on site and there's a disagreement. "That wasn't in my scope." "Yes it was—you didn't exclude it."

Now you're eating costs or fighting for a change order.

All three scenarios start the same way: a bid that wasn't ready.

How to Get Your Free Bid Score

It takes less than a minute:

Step 1: Go to the Free Bid Validator

Go to the Smart Bids Free Bid Validator.

Step 2: Paste Your Bid

Copy your bid text and paste it into the validator. Or upload your document.

Step 3: Get Your Score

In seconds, you'll see:

Your overall score (0-100)
A rating (GC-Ready, Review Recommended, High Risk, or Do Not Send)
Summary of what's working and what needs attention

Step 4: Fix and Resubmit

If your score is below 90, you'll know exactly what to fix. Make the changes and check again.

Real Examples: Before and After

Example 1: Drywall Bid

Before (Score: 62 - High Risk):

"Drywall for Building A. $45,000. Call with questions."

Issues Found:

No square footage
No finish level specified
No exclusions
No assumptions
Missing company info

After (Score: 94 - GC-Ready):

"Furnish and install 5/8" Type X drywall, Level 4 finish, Building A per plans dated 1/10/25. 14,200 SF walls, 3,400 SF ceilings. $45,000.

Excludes: Patching, backing for fixtures, scaffolding over 12'.

Assumes: Framing complete and inspected. Clean, dry work area."

Example 2: Painting Bid

Before (Score: 58 - Do Not Send):

"Paint interior. $22,500."

Issues Found:

No scope details
No number of coats
No areas specified
No exclusions
No material specs

After (Score: 91 - GC-Ready):

"Interior painting, all walls and ceilings per spec section 09900. 8,400 SF walls (2 coats eggshell), 2,100 SF ceilings (1 coat flat). Sherwin-Williams ProMar 200 or equal. $22,500.

Excludes: Trim, doors, primer, patching beyond minor nail holes.

Assumes: Walls primed by drywall contractor. One color per room."

Why Check Before You Send?

Because the GC will check anyway.

They're going to review your bid for completeness. They're going to look for gaps. They're going to compare you against other subs who took the time to be thorough.

The only question is: do you want to know what they'll find before or after you submit?

Before = You can fix it. After = You're just hoping.

It's Free. It Takes 30 Seconds. There's No Reason Not To.

You spent hours on that bid. Spend 30 more seconds making sure it's ready.

No account required for your score. No credit card. No sales pitch.

Just paste your bid and see where you stand.

Get Your Free Bid Score Now with Smart Bids.

The Smart Bids Promise

We don't guess. If something's missing, you'll know before the GC does.

Your bid is too important to send blind. Check it first.