Score a tender opportunity with the weighted bid/no-bid method.
Rate each factor 1–5 (5 = most favourable to bidding) and weight by importance.
For decision support only: the final bid/no-bid call rests with your bid committee.
About this bid/no-bid score calculator
This free bid/no-bid score calculator helps construction contractors decide whether a tender opportunity is worth pursuing. Rate six factors, client and employer, margin and profitability, spare capacity and workload, project and contract risk, strategic fit, and competitive position, on a 1 to 5 favourability scale, weight each by importance, and the tool returns a single weighted score and a clear BID, REVIEW or NO-BID recommendation. It is aimed at estimators, bid managers and directors who want a consistent, defensible way to triage tender invitations before committing scarce estimating resource to a full price.
How the bid/no-bid score is calculated
The model is the standard simple additive weighted scoring (SAWS) method. Each factor i carries a score s (1–5) and a weight w in per cent; the overall worth is the weighted average Σ(w·s) ÷ Σw, expressed as a percentage of the maximum (5). That percentage is then compared with the bidder's aspiration level, bid at or above the threshold, review within the band below it, and decline further below. Risk uses the same scale with no sign inversion, so 5 means lowest risk. Method per Ahmad, I. (1990), Decision-Support System for Modeling the Bid/No-Bid Decision Problem, ASCE Journal of Construction Engineering and Management 116(4), with the factor set drawn from Ahmad & Minkarah's survey of US general contractors. The factors, weights and the 70 % threshold / 10 pp review band are deliberately company-specific defaults, edit them to match your firm's appetite.
Frequently asked questions
What is a bid/no-bid decision?
It is the early go/no-go judgement a contractor makes on a tender invitation, deciding whether the opportunity is worth the cost and effort of preparing a competitive price, before any detailed estimating begins. A structured score keeps that decision consistent across opportunities and reviewers.
How should I score the risk factor?
Risk is rated on the same favourability scale as every other factor, so a higher number is better: 5 means low, well-understood risk, clear scope, good ground conditions, a sensible programme and fair contract terms. While 1 means high risk. There is no sign inversion to remember.
Can I change the weights and threshold?
Yes. The default weights and the 70 % aspiration level with a 10 pp review band are starting points, not standards. Adjust the weights to reflect what matters most to your business and set the threshold to your own risk appetite; the recommendation updates as you type.