TheBidBroker

Public Bid Starter Kit

Bid your first public construction job without getting thrown out on a technicality.

Most first-time bidders lose public jobs on paperwork, not price. This kit walks you through it step by step: licenses, bid bonds, reading the bid package, pricing, and bid day. Written for small contractors in Mississippi and Louisiana, with notes on federal work.

One-time $19. Instant download. No account needed. All sales final.

What you get

  • Public Bid Starter Guide (PDF, 10 pages)

    How public bidding works, where jobs are posted, licenses, bonds, reading a bid package, pricing, bid day, and the 12 reasons bids get thrown out.

  • Estimate & Bid Log (Excel)

    Price a job line by line with overhead, profit, contingency and bond cost built in, and log every bid against the low bid.

  • Capability Statement template (Word)

    The one-page summary primes and agencies ask for, ready to fill in.

Inside the guide

  1. 1.How public bidding works, in plain English
  2. 2.Where public jobs are posted (and how to get on bidder lists)
  3. 3.Get ready: license, insurance, bid bonds, registrations
  4. 4.How to read a bid package in 20 minutes
  5. 5.How to price a public job, with a worked example
  6. 6.Bid day: the form, the sealed envelope, delivery
  7. 7.The 12 reasons bids get thrown out
  8. 8.After the bid: award, contract, getting paid
  9. 9.Working as a sub for the company that won
  10. 10.Templates: bid day checklist, questions to ask, intro message

Free sample from chapter 7

4 of the 12 reasons public bids get thrown out

  • An addendum not acknowledged. Check for addenda the day before; list each one on the form.
  • No bid bond, or the wrong amount. Match the percent in the notice; include the power of attorney.
  • Blank alternates or unit prices. Fill every blank.
  • Added your own conditions ("price good for 10 days"). Don't qualify a public bid. Ask questions before the deadline instead.

The other 8, with the fixes, are in the guide.

Questions

Who is it for?
Small contractors who are new to public work, or who've bid a few times and keep losing on paperwork: GCs, concrete, paving, site work, roofing, HVAC, plumbing, electrical and more.
Does it cover my state?
It's written for Mississippi and Louisiana (licenses, bid bonds, envelope rules) with notes on federal jobs. Most of it (reading a bid package, pricing, bid day) applies anywhere.
Is this legal advice?
No. It's practical guidance from how public bidding works. The bid documents and your state's law always control, and the guide tells you where to check.
How do I get the files?
Right after you pay, you land on your download page, and we email you the link so you can come back later. No account needed.
Can I get a refund?
No. It's an instant download, so all sales are final. Read the chapter list and the free sample above first to make sure it's right for you.

Get the Public Bid Starter Kit

10-page guide, estimate spreadsheet and capability statement template. $19 once.

Secure checkout by Stripe. Instant download; all sales final. Sold by ForgeLine Digital Co LLC, Ripley, MS.

Looking for jobs to bid? A free TheBidBroker account shows the open public jobs in your trade every morning.