Bid Alternate
A separately priced option so the owner can adjust scope at award.
Quick Answer
A bid alternate is a defined change to the base scope that bidders price separately from their base bid. Add alternates increase scope or quality; deduct alternates reduce it. Owners use alternates to see the cost of options at bid time and accept or reject them at award, adjusting the project to fit the budget without rebidding.
The Full Picture
Owners rarely know at bid time exactly how much project they can afford. Alternates exist to keep options open. Instead of rebidding when numbers come in high, the design team defines specific scope changes up front, bidders price them, and the owner picks the combination that fits the budget.
Mechanically, alternates are listed in the bid documents, often in a Division 01 section on alternates, with each one described precisely: what changes, which drawings and spec sections apply, and whether it adds or deducts. Bidders enter a separate amount for each alternate on the bid form. On public work, the bid documents usually state how alternates will be considered in determining the low bidder, since the order in which alternates are accepted can change who is low.
In practice, alternates cover things like upgraded finishes, an extra parking level, a different roofing system, or deferring site work. A GC collecting sub bids must make sure every trade prices every alternate that touches its scope. A single alternate, such as switching from VCT to polished concrete, can affect the flooring, concrete, and prep trades at once.
For preconstruction, alternates are a common source of leveling errors. Subs skip them, price them with different assumptions, or bury them in their base number. Tracking alternates by trade and confirming each bidder's pricing is part of bringing bids to equal scope, and the accepted alternates must flow into the contract sum and subcontract scopes cleanly.
Real Examples
Common Misconceptions
People assume: Alternates are optional for bidders to price.
Actually: When the bid documents request alternates, bidders are generally expected to price every one. Missing alternate prices can make a bid nonresponsive on public work and leave gaps in a GC's number on private work.
People assume: An alternate is the same as a substitution.
Actually: An alternate is defined by the design team and priced by all bidders. A substitution or voluntary alternate is proposed by a bidder or contractor and requires review and approval. They follow different procedures and carry different risks.
Does MeltPlan Solve This?
Yes — direct fitYes — bid alternates review is a core part of what MeltPlan's bid leveling does. When MeltPlan levels subcontractor proposals, it surfaces the alternates each bidder priced alongside scope gaps, exclusions, and qualifications, so you can see which subs skipped an alternate or priced it differently. Leveling runs in minutes in the web app or your own Excel template.
Compare alternates across every sub bid →Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between an add alternate and a deduct alternate?
An add alternate increases the contract sum if accepted, usually for added scope or higher quality. A deduct alternate reduces the contract sum if accepted, usually by removing or downgrading scope. Both are priced separately from the base bid.
How are alternates used to determine the low bidder?
The bid documents should state the method. On public projects, owners often accept alternates in a stated order or combination and compare base bid plus accepted alternates. Stating the method in advance prevents the owner from choosing alternates to favor a particular bidder.
Who writes bid alternates?
The architect and engineers define alternates in the drawings and specifications, typically in consultation with the owner and, on negotiated work, the GC's preconstruction team, who can suggest alternates likely to save money.
Why do alternates cause problems in bid leveling?
Because each alternate can touch several trades, and subs often skip or qualify them. The estimator has to confirm every relevant trade priced every alternate on the same basis before the totals can be compared.