Use shared line items
Every bidder should price the same scope. Vague lines invite apples-to-oranges comparisons and disputes later.
Bid tabulation sheet builder
Open the bids. Rank the responsive totals.
Tabulate unit prices across every bidder, mark responsive and non-responsive packages, and let the lowest complete bid surface itself. Everything runs in your browser — copy, download, print, or save locally.
- No signup
- Saved locally
- Lowest responsive rank
- Copy, CSV, TXT, print
Bid tab desk Draft ready
1. Bid header
Tell reviewers which project, package, and bid opening this tab covers.
A bid tab records the prices submitted at bid opening. It is not a contract or award; your organization still needs to validate responsiveness and follow its own approval process.
2. Line items
Define what bidders are pricing. Each line becomes a comparison row across bidders.
3. Bidders
Add each bidder, bond and addenda status, freight, and responsiveness. Unit prices are entered in the comparison matrix below.
4. Bid price matrix & ranking
Enter each bidder's unit price per line. Extended totals, bidder totals, ranking, and spread update automatically.
Leave a unit price blank until a bidder responds. Bidders missing required line prices are flagged Incomplete and stay visible but do not rank as responsive.
How bid tabulation works
Bid tabulation is the step after bid opening. Bidders submit unit prices on shared line items, the buyer records each price on a single comparison sheet, adds freight or alternate totals, and then ranks the packages to identify the lowest responsive total.
This builder keeps the bid header, line items, bidders, and price matrix in one place. You enter unit prices once; extended totals, bidder totals, ranking, spread, and responsiveness flags update live so the bid opening summary is ready before the room empties.
Mark responsiveness
If a bidder missed the bond, skipped an addendum, or left a required price blank, mark them Non-responsive or Incomplete so they stay visible but do not win ranking.
Check the spread
A wide spread between the low and second-low bid can signal a scope misunderstanding. Use the spread number as a prompt to review scope before award.
Responsive, non-responsive, and incomplete bids
A responsive bid follows the instructions to bidders: required forms submitted, addenda acknowledged, bond included when required, and complete pricing on every line. A non-responsive bid fails one or more of those requirements and is typically not eligible for award.
This tool lets you mark each bidder so you can see the full opening without losing the distinction. Bidders marked Responsive with complete pricing are eligible for ranking; everyone else stays on the sheet with their totals shown but a clear status flag.
Use Incomplete when a bidder left required unit prices blank but otherwise followed instructions; use Non-responsive for procedural failures like a missing bond or missed addenda; use Disqualified or Withdrawn when the opening team formally removes a bid.
Formula and ranking method
For each bidder, the tool calculates every line as quantity × unit price, then sums them into a merchandise total. Grand total adds bidder freight or alternate totals.
Formula: bidder grand total = Σ(quantity × unit price) + freight or other + alternate total.
Ranking considers only bidders whose status is Responsive and whose pricing is complete on every line with a quantity greater than zero. Among eligible bidders, the lowest grand total ranks first; ties break alphabetically by company name. The lowest eligible total is the low bid; spread for each eligible bidder is their grand total minus the low bid.
From RFQ to bid tab to purchase order
This bid tabulation sheet is the comparison step between soliciting quotes and awarding work. If you used the RFQ builder to invite vendors, the bid tab is where their returned prices get compared. After you identify the winning bidder, the purchase order builder turns the decision into an authorization.
For broader supplier evaluation that includes quality, delivery reliability, and support alongside price, pair this tab with the vendor scorecard builder. If the awarded work becomes a field job, the work order builder and job estimate builder connect downstream.
Example: Riverwalk MEP bid opening
Riverwalk Development opens bids for an MEP package on a tenant improvement. Three mechanical contractors submit prices on four shared line items. One bidder is responsive and lowest, one is responsive but higher, and one is missing the required bid bond. Use Load example above to see how the matrix ranks the two responsive bidders and flags the third as non-responsive.
Frequently asked questions
What should a bid tabulation sheet include?
A bid tab should include the project and bid package, bid due and opening dates, line items with quantities and units, each bidder's unit prices, freight or alternate totals, bond and addenda status, and a clear ranking of responsive complete bids.
How is the low bid chosen?
The low bid is the lowest grand total among bidders marked Responsive with complete pricing on every required line. Ties break alphabetically by company name.
What makes a bid non-responsive?
A bid is non-responsive when it fails the instructions to bidders — for example, missing bond, missing addenda acknowledgment, late submission, or incomplete pricing on required items. Marking a bid non-responsive keeps it visible on the tab but removes it from ranking.
Can I use this for private and public bids?
Yes. The tab works for both private procurement and public bid openings, but public agencies have additional sealed-bid, publication, and award rules. Follow your jurisdiction and organization requirements.
Where is my bid data stored?
Only in your browser via localStorage. Nothing is uploaded to Useful Business Tools servers. Reset clears the local draft for this page.