latest bid results - this isn't fun anymore

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CopperTone

Senior Member
Location
MetroWest, MA
Ok , so here is my latest bid rusults. Filed sub bid - public bid job, prevailing wage rates apply.

22,900
23,900
27,449 ** this was ours
28,700
32,844
34,900
41,749
49,500

I went as tight as I knew I could go without losing money. I even rounded down on my labor take offs and lowered my material mark up to 12%. This job probably would have been 2-3 days more than I budgeted for but I was trying to keep the bid tight. I don't think I low balled the job however I know I bare boned it and wanted the work.
I never would/could shave off $4549 off my bid. Things are getting desperate out there.

You know what they say " Desperation is a stinky cologne"

I hope the low ballers get busy with the low balling work and are too busy to bid upcoming jobs soon. Or learn a lesson and up their prices. Then again, if I was low and won the bid - the rest would be calling me a low baller. I guess you cannot win.

To make matters worse - this job is 100% outside work and has to be completed by middle of may - this is massachusetts.
Good luck and have fun losing money in the cold.
 
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GC's choose what sub number they want to carry - those bids are not due until next week. Most of the time they carry the lowest number unless they have issues with that particular sub and don't want to work with them.
Again, most of the time they take the lowest number.
Being certified with the state and constantly getting rated by the Dept of Capital Asset Management most subs and GC's are in good standing or they risk losing their certification which excludes them from bidding these jobs.

My price in a good market would have been around $33,800.00
 
No doubt it sucks out there. If the numbers are what you say they are, (I don't doubt you) the low companies will be out of business eventually.

Where in MA are you?
 
right next door - hopkinton - this job is in Worcester.

funny thing is - our company is physically closer to this job than any other EC. A lot of times this happens however, I thought it odd this time that the lowest bidder was from the north shore.

long commute, freezing cold, and working for wages(and you better hurry up)
 
CopperTone said:
right next door - hopkinton - this job is in Worcester.

funny thing is - our company is physically closer to this job than any other EC. A lot of times this happens however, I thought it odd this time that the lowest bidder was from the north shore.

long commute, freezing cold, and working for wages(and you better hurry up)
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Right next door is right. I grew up 100 yards from the Hopkinton town line. What's you company name? PM me if you don't want it on the open forum.
 
What's getting scary is that this is happening accross the board. From the smallest little rinky dink jobs right on up.

Not really a whole lot that you can do. :rolleyes:
 
electricmanscott said:
What's getting scary is that this is happening accross the board. From the smallest little rinky dink jobs right on up.

Not really a whole lot that you can do. :rolleyes:
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You almost have to lower prices in a deflating economy like this. But there is a logical number that needs to be reached where you still make a little money on it.
 
tonyou812 said:
You almost have to lower prices in a deflating economy like this. But there is a logical number that needs to be reached where you still make a little money on it.
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There are guys here that say hold your ground don't change your pricing etc.

Some say they'd rather sit home than work for wages. I tend to agree but the way things are that is not going to work.


For me anyway, I have to work to keep money flowing to cover expenses. Even if I make no profit I still have to stay alive.
 
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