Walkthrough bid. Drop real files ·
Skeptical stand-up
12 things that will embarrass you on bid day
Days to bid
8
Sep 18
Material (awarded / quoted)
$4.4M
3 still $0
Labor
$614,774
@ $165/hr
Indicated bid
$6.2M
OH + contig + profit
01 OST / Register
20 lines
02 RFQs
18/20 packed
03 Vendor returns
12/15
04 Leveling
12 gaps
05 Bid to Win
3 unpriced
Flags against the register
12 critical · 3 watch
- critical
ABB quoted 7 EA vs takeoff 9
C-CT-138 · 138 kV 2000:5 C800 current transformer, free-standing. Do not award this line until the BOM matches OST or you write a variance.
- critical
Bus fittings are on RFQ-008 but AFL priced pipe only
C-BUS-FT will export to Bid to Win at $0. Chase the fittings follow-up or plug a historical LS before bid day.
- critical
C-CAB-CTL is not on any RFQ
600 V multi-conductor control cable, XLPE, shielded (4200 LF) never left the register. Bid to Win will carry $0 material unless you package it.
- critical
C-CH-EQ is not on any RFQ
Control house DC system and panelboard mods (1 LS) never left the register. Bid to Win will carry $0 material unless you package it.
- critical
Capform Concrete quoted 118 CY vs takeoff 124
C-FDN-EQ · Equipment piers and pedestals. Do not award this line until the BOM matches OST or you write a variance.
- critical
GE Vernova lead is 52 weeks
C-XFMR-01 cannot hit in-service 2027-10-15 from NTP 2026-11-03 without an expedite or a spare. Escalation, not a spreadsheet fix.
- critical
Hitachi Energy lead is 64 weeks
C-XFMR-01 cannot hit in-service 2027-10-15 from NTP 2026-11-03 without an expedite or a spare. Escalation, not a spreadsheet fix.
- critical
Southern States quoted 4 EA vs takeoff 6
C-DS-138 · 138 kV 3000 A vertical-break disconnect, 3-pole group-operated. Do not award this line until the BOM matches OST or you write a variance.
- critical
Southwire quoted 650 LF vs takeoff 620
C-CAB-PWR · 15 kV 500 kcmil Cu EPR 133% MV-105. Do not award this line until the BOM matches OST or you write a variance.
- critical
Valmont Utility quoted 10.5 TN vs takeoff 11.5
C-STL-EQ · Equipment stands — breaker, CT, arrester. Do not award this line until the BOM matches OST or you write a variance.
- critical
Valmont Utility quoted 16.8 TN vs takeoff 18.4
C-STL-DE · Galvanized 138 kV dead-end A-frame. Do not award this line until the BOM matches OST or you write a variance.
- critical
Valmont Utility quoted 20.9 TN vs takeoff 22.7
C-STL-BS · 138 kV bus support structures. Do not award this line until the BOM matches OST or you write a variance.
- watch
Addendum 3 changed C-CT-138; RFQ-004 was not reissued
Takeoff is now 9 EA. Last vendor return still reflects the pre-addendum quantity.
- watch
RFQ-005 is single-sourced
34.5 kV metal-clad switchgear: one return, 1 no-bid. No leveling leverage and no backup if the quote walks.
- watch
RFQ-007 vendor return arrived late
Late does not mean wrong — but check whether the number was a placeholder to hit the mailbox.