What is an Invitation to Bid?

An invitation to bid is a “sealed bidding method” of soliciting bids used when there is no
substantial difference between the products or services that meet the specifications. The only real
difference between the submissions is the price.

The purpose of an invitation to bid is to provide standardized information to all bidders,

fostering a truly competitive process. This is achieved through the use of sealed bidding procedures.
Contractors will submit their price in sealed envelopes which are publicly opened to maintain
transparency. The contract will ultimately be awarded to the lowest bidder, with zero negotiations
concerning price or services.

Focusing solely on the price could potentially lead to poor quality work and performance issues.
However, the soliciting company can minimize some of this risk by including strict minimum
qualifications for bidders. By doing so, the company is effectively pre-qualifying all the bidders. That way
the bids can be evaluated solely on price points.

What are the General Conditions in Construction Contracts?

General conditions are essentially the framework of the construction contract documents. They provide
the “hows” of the project. Most importantly, general conditions establish all the rights and obligations of
the contracting parties. Additionally, it will lay out the roles of every party and the responsibilities of
each. The general conditions provide the game plan to proceed in the event of any issues on the project,
often within a group of detailed clauses. This includes the process for submitting change orders,
approval of payment applications, and any notice requirements. The general conditions will also include
all the suspension, termination and alternative dispute resolution procedures.

Site Management

Even before the construction proper begins, the onsite management team needs to be equipped with
the infrastructure necessary to be successful. It’s the general contractor’s job to construct an office
where power and utilities are available.

Project Management

The protocols and procedures detailed in Division 1, that is general requirements, are executed by a
project management team employed by the general contractor. This team is typically made up of a
project executive, project manager, project engineer, and superintendent.

Material Handling

It’s the general contractor’s responsibility to accept, protect, and stage incoming deliveries of materials
and products to be used.
Trash Removal

A major aspect of any construction project is the debris, material waste, and garbage the site continually
creates. The majority of dumpster contents will come from construction activities. However, trash from
clean-ups, the staging and material handling area, as well as the office will all need to be removed.

What is Special Conditions?

Special conditions are typically an addition or amendment to the general conditions section. This
document will detail the specific clauses and conditions for each task or project. For example, special
conditions will include specific instructions that only apply to one job or portion of the build.

What is a Bid Form?

Whether you're the owner of a construction project or a contractor trying to place a bid, creating a Bid
Form is a great way to explain all the details of a bid. Not only does it help you protect your legal
interests, it helps distinguish the best bid for the project, which means you can start breaking ground as
soon as possible.

https://www.levelset.com/blog/invitation-to-bid-vs-requests-for-proposals/

https://www.procore.com/article/general-conditions-in-construction-your-comprehensive-guide

https://www.levelset.com/blog/construction-contract-documents-guide/

https://www.rocketlawyer.com/business-and-contracts/business-operations/project-management/
document/bid-form