1. Documents
- Complete plan set: architectural, structural, civil, MEP, fire protection, landscape.
- Project manual, including Division 00 and 01.
- All addenda, logged and acknowledged.
- Geotechnical report, if available. On eastern Kansas sites it often controls foundation cost; see our clay soils guide.
- Bid form, alternates, unit prices and allowances.
- Site visit notes and photos.
2. Scope
- Build a scope sheet for each trade with inclusions and exclusions.
- Check for gaps between trades: blocking, fire caulking, access panels, equipment connections, final cleaning.
- Review specifications for items not on the drawings: testing, warranties, mockups, attic stock, commissioning.
- Confirm owner-furnished and owner-installed items.
- Confirm temporary facilities, winter protection and dewatering responsibility.
3. Kansas-specific pricing
- Sales tax. Classify scopes as original construction or remodel; confirm whether a Project Exemption Certificate applies; use the job-location rate. See the Kansas contractor sales tax guide.
- Code edition. Confirm the jurisdiction's adopted codes and amendments. See Kansas building codes by city.
- Frost depth. About 30 inches around Wichita, 36 inches or more around Kansas City; confirm locally.
- Soils and rock. Price mitigation from the geotech; carry rock allowances where limestone or shale is likely.
- Hail and wind. Check roofing class, uplift requirements, hail guards and wind-rated openings.
- Storm shelters. Required for many new schools and emergency facilities under the 2015 and later IBC.
- Prevailing wage. No Kansas state requirement, but Davis-Bacon applies on federally funded work. See prevailing wage in Kansas.
- Freight and travel for central and western Kansas jobs.
- Registration. Roofers must register with the Kansas Attorney General; check local contractor licensing.
4. Commercial terms
- Bid bond, performance and payment bond costs.
- Insurance requirements and limits.
- Retainage and payment terms: Kansas caps retainage and sets 30-day and 7-business-day payment deadlines. See Kansas prompt payment and retainage laws.
- Liquidated damages and schedule risk.
- Escalation allowance or clause for steel, copper, lumber and equipment.
- Contingency stated separately.
5. Bid day
- Bid spreadsheet with plug numbers for every scope before bids arrive.
- Level subcontractor bids against scope sheets; adjust for exclusions.
- Final check of quantities, math and markups.
- Bid form complete, addenda acknowledged, bid security attached, signatures in place, submitted on time.
Use the checklist with a real estimate
The checklist works best when it starts from a complete takeoff. Order a quantity takeoff or a full construction cost estimate, and read our guides on public bids and takeoff vs. estimate.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most common bid mistake?
Scope gaps: items that fall between trades or appear only in the specifications, such as fire caulking, blocking, temporary protection, testing or cleaning. Scope sheets and a division-by-division review prevent them.
How should I handle material price escalation in a Kansas bid?
Date your pricing, carry an escalation allowance for projects that start months after bid, and, where the owner allows, use an escalation clause for volatile materials such as steel, copper and lumber.
How much contingency should I carry?
It depends on design completeness, contract type and risk. Detailed bids on complete documents carry less contingency than budget estimates. State it as a separate line rather than burying it in unit prices.
Sources and further reading
- Kansas Department of Revenue, Publication KS-1525 (contractors)
- Kansas Attorney General, Kansas Roofing Registration Act
- U.S. Department of Labor, Davis-Bacon and Related Acts
This guide is general information for estimating and bidding, not tax or legal advice. Confirm requirements with the agency or jurisdiction that governs your project.