A headline tender sum rarely provides enough information for a sound appointment decision. Different tenderers may price different scope, make different allowances, exclude material work or qualify important contract requirements. This free workbook provides a consistent starting point for reviewing those differences.
What the workbook includes
- Instructions: purpose, workflow and important review considerations
- Tender Summary: submitted sums, adjustments, tender validity, programme, exclusions and overall position
- Trade Comparison: side-by-side pricing for major construction cost elements, including automatic lowest-price and spread calculations
- Clarifications: a register for qualifications, exclusions, cost impact, programme impact, risk and resolution
- Evaluation Score: editable weightings and automatic weighted scores for commercial and qualitative criteria
How to use the tender comparison template
- Enter each tenderer's name and submitted tender sum.
- Record arithmetic and agreed post-tender adjustments without overwriting the original submission.
- Enter comparable trade or cost-element amounts from each tender return.
- Record exclusions, qualifications, provisional allowances and unresolved clarifications.
- Agree evaluation criteria and weightings before completing qualitative scores.
- Check that the total weighting equals 100% and document the basis of every material adjustment.
Do not select on headline price alone
A lower submission can become more expensive after missing scope, unrealistic provisional sums or commercial qualifications are addressed. Review compliance with the drawings, specification, tender addenda, programme and proposed contract conditions alongside the price.
The workbook does not automatically determine the successful tenderer. Its purpose is to organise information transparently so the project team can identify questions, compare like with like and document the reasons for its recommendation.
Important limitations
This template is general guidance and should be adapted to the procurement route, tender documents and evaluation rules for the particular project. It is not a contract document, legal opinion or tender recommendation. Formula cells and entered information should be independently checked before they are relied upon.
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