Complete AI Training
Sign inGet my AI kit

Your job's AI kit

Get your AI kit

Tell us who you are and what you do. We show you your kit right away and email you the link: skills, prompts, AI agents, MCP servers and courses for your job.

500+ jobs ready, and we make a kit for any other job. No payment needed to look.

Share

AI agent for construction estimators

Subcontractor Bid Leveling Agent

A leveled bid comparison showing true cost for the same scope

AnalysisAutomationReal estate and construction
See how it worksGet access
Subcontractor Bid Leveling Agent: what goes in, what the agent does and what you get

What it does

Subcontractor bids arrive in different formats with their own inclusions, exclusions and qualifications, which makes the low number misleading. When bids close, this agent reads every bid for a trade package, extracts what each one includes, excludes or qualifies, and maps it to the scope sheet. It prices missing scope at the firm's own unit rates so all bids sit on the same basis, and keeps alternates separate. If a bid is unclear on any scope item, it drafts clarification questions for that bidder and updates the leveling sheet when answers arrive. It then builds the leveled comparison. The estimator, quantity surveyor or developer chooses who to carry. Edge case: a bid far below the others is flagged as possibly missing scope rather than assumed to be the best value.

How it works

Follow the arrows from top to bottom. The orange dashed arrow is the loop: when a check fails, the agent goes back and tries again.

Start and resultWhat it doesA check on its own workWaits for your OKGoes back and retries
Yes, continueApprovedNo 1 STARTS WHEN Bids close 2 USES A TOOL Read bids and extract inclusions, exclusions andqualifications 3 DOES Map each bid against the scope sheet 4 DOES Add costs for missing scope 5 CHECKS THE RESULT Is every scope item clearly in or out for each bid? If not: draft clarification questions for unclearbidders and update after replies. Back to step 3. 6 USES A TOOL Build the leveled comparison sheet 7 YOU APPROVE Estimator, QS or developer chooses the bidder 8 RESULT Leveled bid sheet and recommendation notes
Read the steps as a list
  1. Bids close
  2. Read bids and extract inclusions, exclusions and qualifications
  3. Map each bid against the scope sheet
  4. Add costs for missing scope
  5. Is every scope item clearly in or out for each bid?If not: draft clarification questions for unclear bidders and update after replies. Back to step 3.
  6. Build the leveled comparison sheet
  7. Estimator, QS or developer chooses the bidderThe agent waits here for your OK.
  8. Leveled bid sheet and recommendation notes

How it decides

Each bid is adjusted to full scope using the firm's prices for exclusions. Bids over 15% below the median are flagged.

  • Exclusions priced at the firm's unit rates
  • Low outliers flagged
  • Alternates kept separate

Make it yours

Every agent is a starting point. You choose these settings for your own situation.

  • Low-outlier threshold (default 15%)
  • Unit price source
  • Scope sheet template
  • Clarification tone

What keeps you in control

It always asks you first

  • Person sends any questions to bidders
  • Person selects the bidder

Hard limits

  • Never awards contracts
  • Never shares one bidder's prices with another

It stops when

  • Done: all bids leveled
  • Stop: fewer than two bids

Set it up

We guide you through the set-up, step by step

Members get the full set-up guide for this agent. No technical skills needed: you copy, paste and upload.

10 minto set it up in your AI
5 AIsChatGPT, Claude, Copilot, Gemini, Grok
  • One set of instructions to paste into your AI, with the clicks for ChatGPT, Claude, Microsoft 365 Copilot, Gemini and Grok
  • The agent then walks you through connecting your own data, one source at a time
  • A downloadable copy with the flow chart, the rules and the full guide
Get access to this agent

An example run

What happensFour electrical bids ranged from $1.82 million to $2.31 million. The lowest excluded fire alarm and temporary power, worth $236,000 at firm rates. One bid was silent on lighting controls, so the scope check failed and the agent drafted a question; the bidder confirmed they were included. The leveled low became the second bidder at $2.04 million, and the estimator approved carrying them.

More agents for construction estimators

Decisions · Creatives

Supplier Quote Comparison Agent

A comparable table of complete quotes and a recommended shortlist

10 steps2 checks5 jobs
Decisions · Real estate and construction

Material Substitution Impact Agent

Pick a substitute that meets every requirement with the least cost and delay.

11 steps2 checks6 jobs
Quality control · Analysis

Construction Drawing Dimension Conflict Agent

Resolve every dimension conflict before material is ordered or cut.

11 steps2 checks5 jobs
Quality control · Real estate and construction

Subcontractor Scope Gap Review Agent

Give every scope item exactly one owner before the bid or award.

11 steps2 checks5 jobs