Subcontract award decisions:
better, faster.
We turn uneven subcontractor bids into clear buyout analysis
for faster, better-informed award decisions.
For Construction Managers, General Contractors, and Owner Representatives
Buyout support when the package gets hard to compare
Scope gaps and cost risks are easy to miss when bids don't align, especially under deadline pressure.
Fast
Analysis delivered fast enough to keep award decisions moving when bid packages come in late, uneven, or hard to compare.
Verifiable
Findings are grounded in the bid documents, so your team can review the analysis and use it confidently in internal discussions.
Project-ready
Built around how your team already runs buyout, with deliverables shaped for real award conversations.
Decision-ready buyout analysis
At the center of the engagement is a clear, reviewable buyout package your team can use before award. The output is built for what comes next:
- Internal review and ownership presentations
- Award discussions with your team
- Follow-up questions before commitment
Sentelex does not decide who to award. We help your team see scope gaps, exclusions, inconsistencies, and other bid-side risks more clearly before the decision is made.
Trade package award brief
Electrical — Division 26
Before you award
- Risk Low bidder excludes temporary heat and winter protection — est. $85–120K exposure if unresolved.
- Watch Switchgear lead time (36 weeks) is not reflected in the current milestone schedule.
- Watch One bidder qualifies controls scope as owner-furnished; no other bidder assumes this.
- Confirmed Bonding and insurance terms are consistent across all four bidders.
| Bidder | Base bid | Key exclusions | Schedule | Commercial notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bidder A | $4.82M | Temp heat, winter protection | Long lead not shown | 10% retainage |
| Bidder B | $5.05M | None stated | Aligned to milestones | 5% retainage |
| Bidder C | $4.95M | Controls scope (owner-furnished) | Aligned to milestones | 5% retainage |
"Temporary heat and winter protection by others."
Bidder A — Proposal Letter, p. 2, §4"Fire alarm and building controls systems are assumed owner-furnished and installed by others."
Bidder C — Bid Clarifications, p. 1, §2Project partner, not software
The engagement is scoped to your project and shaped around how your team already handles buyout. You send the bids, we do the analysis, and you get back decision-ready output in a format your team can use.
Project execution
- Contract and NDA are signed before any documents are shared.
- We review submitted subcontractor bids for all or selected trades.
- We deliver buyout analysis tailored to your team's award process.
- If the package changes, we can recheck revisions, clarifications, and follow-on rounds.
Terms
- Turnaround is faster than a typical manual review cycle.
- Output is formatted for internal review:
- Ownership presentations
- Award discussions
- Follow-up questions before commitment
- No retainer. No subscription. Project-by-project engagement.
Construction experience backed by software and analysis
Sentelex combines construction judgment with software built for subcontractor buyout.
That matters because bid analysis is not just a document problem. It requires knowing which differences matter to the award decision and which do not.
Our service works because we have both:
- the technical capability to process unstructured bids at scale
- the field judgment to know which differences actually matter.
Konstantin ran subcontractor buyout at a Chicago CM. Sentelex came directly out of that work: a faster way to analyze messy bids without losing the detail the team needs before award.
The platform behind the work was built specifically for this type of analysis. Clients engage Sentelex for the outcome, not for another tool to learn.
On confidentiality
Bid documents contain your pricing, your subcontractor relationships, and your project strategy. We understand why that raises concerns.
An NDA is signed at contract. Documents are used for this engagement only and are not shared with other clients. If your firm has specific data-handling requirements, reach out and we’ll work with you.
Common questions
What kinds of projects is this right for?
Projects where subcontractor bids need to be reviewed quickly and carefully before award, especially when scopes are uneven, timelines are tight, or the team does not have enough bandwidth to fully peel the package apart.
Is this a software tool or a service?
A service. You are not buying a login or changing your workflow. You send the bids, and we return buyout analysis your team can use in the award process.
How is confidentiality handled?
Bid documents are sensitive: pricing, subcontractor relationships, project strategy. An NDA is signed at contract. Your documents are used for this engagement only and not shared with other clients. If you have specific data-handling requirements, reach out.
What does the deliverable actually look like?
A decision-ready buyout package that helps your team compare bidders, spot scope gaps and inconsistencies, and focus attention on the issues that matter before award. The output can be delivered in Excel, PDF, or another format your team prefers.
How do you price it?
Per project, scoped upfront based on package size, bid volume, and the level of follow-through needed, including revisions, rechecks, or follow-on rounds.
How far in advance do I need to reach out?
As soon as you know bids are coming. A little lead time makes it easier to scope the engagement and be ready when the package lands.
Get in touch
Reach out directly. We respond within two business days.