Hard stops — any one of these is a no-bid
- You can't meet the bid due date with a real number
- The insurance or bonding requirement is above what you carry
- The work is outside your trade or licensed scope
- The location is outside the area your crews can cover profitably
- The schedule collides with work you've already committed to
Judgment calls — weigh these together
- Is this a GC you want to build a relationship with?
- How many other subs are likely bidding?
- Are the payment terms, retainage and liquidated damages acceptable?
- Is the scope clear, or is there risk hidden in another spec section?
- Does the job size fit your crew and cash flow?
Write down the decision
Put the answer on one page: go or no-go, the reason, and anything the estimator needs to know. That page is what we send our clients for every invite, and it's what lets an owner decide quickly instead of reading a full package.
Even on a no-go, reply to the GC. A quick decline keeps you on their list for the next one.