Concrete Contractor Bidding Guide: Win Commercial & Public Works Projects 2025
Master concrete contractor bidding with strategies for commercial foundations, flatwork, structural concrete, and public works. Learn estimating, bonding, and winning techniques.
Concrete Construction Market Overview
Concrete Industry Statistics
Market Size:
$65B+
U.S. concrete work annually
Contractors:
75,000+
Concrete contractors
Growth:
4-5%
Annual growth rate
Concrete work forms the foundation of nearly every construction project, from residential slabs to major infrastructure. As a concrete contractor, opportunities span the full range of construction sectors - commercial buildings, industrial facilities, public works, and residential development. Success requires technical expertise, efficient estimating, and strategic positioning in your target markets.
Commercial/Industrial
- • Foundations and footings
- • Structural concrete
- • Tilt-up construction
- • Industrial floors
Public Works
- • Highway and bridge decks
- • Curb, gutter, sidewalk
- • Retaining walls
- • Water/wastewater structures
Types of Concrete Projects
Foundations
Spread footings, continuous footings, mat foundations, pile caps. Requires understanding of structural requirements and soil conditions.
Structural Concrete
Columns, beams, walls, elevated decks. Often requires formwork expertise, rebar installation, and precise placement.
Flatwork
Slabs on grade, sidewalks, parking lots, warehouse floors. High volume work requiring efficient crews and equipment.
Tilt-Up Construction
Site-cast wall panels tilted into position. Specialized technique for industrial and commercial buildings.
- Highway paving (rigid)
- Bridge decks and barriers
- Drainage structures
- Retaining and sound walls
- Curb, gutter, and sidewalk
- Decorative/architectural concrete
- Polished concrete floors
- Post-tensioned concrete
- Precast erection
- Shotcrete/gunite
Estimating Concrete Work
Materials
Concrete (by mix design), reinforcing steel, formwork, curing compounds, joints, embedded items. Get supplier quotes for each project.
Labor
Forming, rebar placement, concrete placement, finishing, stripping. Production rates vary by complexity and conditions.
Equipment
Pumps, conveyors, forklifts, power trowels, saws, vibrators. Factor rental or ownership costs.
Waste & Contingency
Concrete waste 5-10%, rebar waste 3-5%. Add contingency for weather delays and unforeseen conditions.
Flatwork
- • SOG 4" thick: $5-8/SF
- • Sidewalk: $6-10/SF
- • Industrial floor: $8-15/SF
- • Polished floor: $3-8/SF additional
Structural
- • Footings: $400-700/CY
- • Walls: $600-1,200/CY
- • Columns: $800-1,500/CY
- • Elevated decks: $25-45/SF
*Costs vary significantly by region, complexity, access, and market conditions
Contractor Qualifications
State Licensing
- • California: C-8 (Concrete)
- • Florida: Specialty Structure
- • Texas: No state license
- • Most states: GC license covers
Industry Certifications
- • ACI Concrete Flatwork Finisher
- • ACI Concrete Field Testing Technician
- • ASCC Decorative Concrete
- • Post-Tension Institute Certified
- Single project bond limits
- Aggregate bonding capacity
- Financial statements reviewed
- Project experience history
- Personal indemnity usually required
- EMR (Experience Modifier Rate) tracking
- OSHA 10/30 certifications
- Silica exposure program
- Formwork safety competent person
- Crane/rigging certifications
Finding Concrete Work
General Contractor Relationships
Most commercial concrete work comes through GCs. Build relationships with contractors in your target market segments.
Plan Rooms & Bid Aggregators
ConstructionBids, iSqFt, Building Connected, and local plan rooms list projects seeking concrete subcontractors.
Direct Public Bidding
State DOT, county, and municipal projects for curb/gutter, sidewalk, and infrastructure work.
Developer Direct
Some developers and owner-builders contract concrete directly. Build relationships for repeat work.
Positioning Strategies
- • Specialize in a project type
- • Geographic focus for efficiency
- • Highlight safety record
- • Showcase quality work portfolio
Relationship Building
- • Join AGC and local associations
- • Attend bid walks and pre-bids
- • Provide reliable budgets early
- • Follow up on all opportunities
Winning Concrete Bids
Accurate Takeoffs
Invest in quality estimating software. Accurate quantities prevent costly surprises and build trust with GCs.
Efficient Crews
Concrete is labor-intensive. Invest in training, retain skilled finishers, and optimize crew sizes.
Supplier Relationships
Strong relationships with ready-mix suppliers ensure timely delivery and competitive pricing.
Quality Control
Consistent quality builds reputation. Document mix designs, slump tests, and curing procedures.
- Underestimating forming labor on complex structures
- Not accounting for hot/cold weather concrete costs
- Missing embedded items, sleeves, and blockouts
- Inadequate pump or crane access planning
- Not clarifying scope exclusions in proposals
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