Steel Erection Bid Proposal Template
Download a steel erection bid proposal template to present structural steel scope, pricing, crane and equipment assumptions, alternates, exclusions, and bid terms.
Present Steel Erection Scope and Pricing Clearly
A steel erection bid proposal turns an internal estimate into a clear customer-facing offer. It identifies the structural steel work being priced, the proposed contract amount, major erection activities, crane and equipment assumptions, alternates, exclusions, schedule considerations, and commercial terms that define the bid.
This Steel Erection Bid Proposal Template is designed for structural steel erectors, miscellaneous metals contractors with erection crews, and specialty steel subcontractors bidding work such as columns, beams, girders, bracing, joists, joist girders, metal deck, stairs, miscellaneous framing, bolting, field welding, and related erection operations.
What Is a Steel Erection Bid Proposal?
A steel erection bid proposal is the document a contractor submits to communicate the price and conditions under which it will perform a defined erection scope. Unlike the detailed internal estimate used to develop costs, the proposal focuses on the information the customer needs to evaluate the bid: scope, price, assumptions, alternates, exclusions, schedule conditions, and acceptance terms.
Steel erection proposals require particular attention to scope boundaries. Crane access, unloading responsibility, material staging, connection work, temporary bracing, deck installation, survey support, testing, touch-up, overtime, remobilization, and work by others can materially affect field operations. Documenting those assumptions helps distinguish the quoted work from responsibilities that are excluded or separately priced.
When to Use a Steel Erection Bid Proposal
- Submitting a lump-sum structural steel erection bid
- Quoting erection using tonnage or other unit pricing
- Bidding joist, joist girder, bridging, and metal deck installation
- Proposing structural and miscellaneous steel erection as separate scopes
- Providing pricing for stairs, rails, canopies, mezzanines, or equipment-support steel
- Presenting base bids with add or deduct alternates
- Offering unit prices for added or deleted erection work
- Pricing phased or sequenced erection
- Quoting accelerated, overtime, night, or weekend erection as an alternate
- Submitting revised proposals after addenda or scope clarification
What to Include in a Steel Erection Bid Proposal
| Proposal Section | Steel Erection Details |
|---|---|
| Project Information | Customer, project, location, bid date, proposal number, estimator, bid package, drawings, specifications, and addenda. |
| Base Scope | Structural frame, columns, beams, girders, bracing, trusses, joists, joist girders, deck, stairs, miscellaneous framing, and other included assemblies. |
| Erection Operations | Unloading, shakeout, staging, hoisting, connecting, bolt-up, field welding, plumbing, alignment, temporary bracing, and punch work as applicable. |
| Crane and Equipment | Crane assumptions, setup areas, mobilization, aerial lifts, telehandlers, welding equipment, rigging, and other erection equipment. |
| Proposal Price | Base bid, allowances, accepted pricing structure, taxes where applicable, and total proposal amount. |
| Alternates | Add or deduct pricing for optional scope, schedule changes, alternate erection methods, or other requested conditions. |
| Unit Prices | Optional pricing by ton, piece, deck area, labor hour, crane hour, or other agreed measurement for defined additions or deductions. |
| Assumptions | Access, laydown area, sequencing, crane conditions, delivery timing, working hours, temporary power, survey control, and other pricing assumptions. |
| Exclusions | Work specifically excluded from the quoted price, such as fabrication, material supply, engineering, testing, painting, fireproofing, or other responsibilities when not included. |
| Commercial Terms | Proposal validity, payment terms, retainage where applicable, change authorization, schedule qualifications, and acceptance information. |
How to Use the Template
- Enter the customer, project, proposal number, bid date, estimator, and project location.
- List the structural drawings, specifications, addenda, bid package, and other documents used as the basis of the proposal.
- Describe the included steel erection scope by building, phase, structural system, or major assembly.
- Identify whether unloading, shakeout, staging, bolt-up, field welding, temporary bracing, plumbing, alignment, joists, bridging, deck, stairs, and miscellaneous steel are included.
- State the crane, lift, rigging, access, staging, delivery, and working-hour assumptions used to establish the price.
- Enter the base proposal amount and identify allowances or separately priced items.
- List add or deduct alternates separately so the customer can evaluate them without changing the base bid.
- Provide unit prices only when the measurement basis and conditions of use are clearly defined.
- Document exclusions and work by others instead of relying on assumptions that may not be shared by the customer.
- Review the proposal against the internal estimate before approval and submission.
A steel erector submits a proposal for a 310-ton commercial building consisting of columns, beams, bracing, joists, joist girders, and 96,000 square feet of metal deck. The base bid includes unloading, shakeout, erection, bolt-up, field welding shown in the bid documents, plumbing and alignment, temporary erection bracing, one planned crane mobilization, boom lifts, and normal punch work. A separate add alternate covers weekend erection, while another alternate prices a second crane mobilization if the general contractor changes the planned erection sequence.
Best Practices for Steel Erection Proposals
- Identify the exact drawing set, specifications, addenda, and bid documents used for pricing.
- Describe the erection scope in terms that correspond with the internal estimate.
- State whether unloading, shakeout, staging, and material handling are included.
- Define the extent of bolting and field welding included in the base bid.
- Clarify responsibility for joists, bridging, deck, stairs, rails, miscellaneous steel, and loose items.
- Document the number or basis of planned crane mobilizations and setup areas when they affect pricing.
- State assumptions for site access, laydown areas, delivery sequence, crane access, and ground conditions.
- Identify normal working hours and separately price acceleration or overtime when appropriate.
- Separate base scope, allowances, alternates, and unit prices.
- Review exclusions and work by others with the same care as the included scope.
Common Steel Erection Proposal Mistakes
- Submitting a lump-sum price without describing the included erection scope
- Failing to identify the drawing revision or addenda used for pricing
- Leaving unloading, staging, and shakeout responsibilities undefined
- Failing to state whether joists, bridging, deck, stairs, or miscellaneous steel are included
- Leaving field-welding and connection responsibilities unclear
- Assuming unlimited crane access or laydown space without documenting that assumption
- Failing to address crane remobilization caused by changed sequencing
- Including overtime or accelerated scheduling without identifying the pricing basis
- Mixing alternates and allowances into the base bid without separating their values
- Using broad exclusions that conflict with the detailed scope description
Frequently Asked Questions
What should a steel erection bid proposal include?
Include project information, the documents used for pricing, a clear scope of work, proposal amount, erection and crane assumptions, alternates, unit prices where applicable, exclusions, work by others, schedule qualifications, and commercial terms.
Should tonnage be shown in a steel erection proposal?
Tonnage can be included when it helps define the pricing basis, but it should not replace a clear scope description. Piece count, steel type, building height, connections, crane conditions, and other factors may also affect erection cost.
How should crane assumptions be written?
State the anticipated crane arrangement at the level needed to define the price, such as the planned number of mobilizations, setup areas, access assumptions, operating schedule, and responsibility for suitable crane setup conditions. Avoid promising a specific means or method unless that commitment is intentional.
Should field welding be identified separately?
Yes when field welding is material to the scope. Define what welding is included based on the bid documents and identify added, revised, or field-fit welding that would require separate authorization when appropriate.
How should metal deck be addressed?
Identify whether roof deck, floor deck, bridging, closures, edge conditions, openings, fastening, welding, and related accessories are included. If deck is priced as an alternate or separate scope, show it separately from the structural frame erection price.
What are useful steel erection exclusions?
Exclusions should reflect the actual bid. Depending on the project, they may address steel fabrication or supply, engineering, connection design, survey, testing, painting, fireproofing, concrete work, temporary power, crane-ground improvement, traffic control, winter conditions, or work outside defined hours when those items are not included.
What is the difference between an alternate and an allowance?
An alternate is separately stated pricing for a defined change or optional scope that may be accepted or rejected. An allowance is an amount carried within the proposal for a defined item whose final scope or cost has not yet been established. The proposal should identify how each amount affects the base bid.
How should proposal revisions be handled?
Keep the base proposal number traceable, assign a revision number or date, identify what changed, and preserve previous versions. Revised proposals should clearly indicate whether they replace an earlier submission.
Define the Steel Erection Offer Before the Work Begins
A well-structured steel erection bid proposal does more than communicate a price. It documents the steel assemblies, erection operations, crane and access assumptions, alternates, exclusions, schedule conditions, and commercial terms behind that price so the customer can evaluate the offer against a defined scope.