The Art of the bid

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Victor C. Tyler, P.E., have over 40 years in the construction industry with experience as a  Civil Engineer/ Estimator/ Business Owner/ Consultant/ Business Advisor/ Program Management/ and Author of "How to Estimate Road Construction Accurately"

In an industry where trade secrets are closely guarded, The Art of the Bid pulls back the curtain on the proven strategies micro and small specialty trade contractors need to compete, win, and thrive in the construction industry.  

Many small contractors lose money not because they can't build—but because they miscalculate costs, underbid projects, or fail to account for risk. 

Your biggest hurdle? Accurate estimating and pricing profitably—can feel overwhelming for smaller contractors. But here’s the thing: being small can also make you nimble, and that’s a competitive advantage.

This book fills a critical gap by offering:

• Proven strategies tailored to small-scale operations
• Real-world examples and templates
• Guidance on using affordable digital tools
• Tips for improving win rates without sacrificing margins
• Straightforward language, no jargon
• Emphasis is on civil, highway, site, underground utility infrastructure and state DOT estimating and bid strategies

Chapter 1 Construction Contracting: Business Development Matters

Chapter 2 Project Business Workflow: Understanding Your Mature Business Model

Chapter 3 Introduction to Estimating: Knowledge, Skills and Abilities  

Chapter 4 Construction Direct Costs: Materials, Labor, Equipment, and Subtractors

Chapter 5 Construction Equipment: Equipment Ownership and Operating Costs 

Chapter 6 Job Site Overhead Costs: Capturing Job Supervision and Support Cost

Chapter 7 Construction Accounting: Job Cost Accounting Drives Profitability 

Chapter 8 Margin, Markup & Overhead: Covering the Cost of Doing Business 

Chapter 9 Pricing The Estimate: Cost First, Then Price

Chapter 10 Estimating Risk: Controlling & Reducing Risk

Chapter 11 Pre-Award to Project Closeout: Documentation of the Project Lifecycle 

Chapter 12 Pre-Work Planning: Work Breakdown Structure  

Chapter 13 Estimating and Bidding Case Study: Concrete Culvert Project Estimate Example

Chapter 14 Construction Financial Management: Increasing Profit while Building the Project 

Chapter 15 Example Cost Modeling Templates Practical Study and Solutions                

     Encouraging Words from the Author                         

     Assessing Your Firm’s Readiness to Scale