Electrical Bid Proposal Template (Free Word & PDF)

A bid proposal is where your estimate becomes a contract. The price gets you on the shortlist; the scope language decides whether you make money on the job. This template follows the structure general contractors and owners expect for electrical work, and includes sample wording for the sections most contractors leave thin.

Sections in the template

Header: company name, license number, contact, proposal number and date.
Project: name, address, GC or owner, bid date.
Basis of bid: the drawings (sheet numbers and dates), specifications and addenda you priced.
Scope of work: a plain-language summary of what you'll install.
Base bid: the lump-sum price.
Alternates: separately priced add or deduct options.
Unit prices: prices for items whose quantity may change.
Inclusions: what's explicitly in the price.
Exclusions: what's explicitly not.
Clarifications and assumptions: conditions your price depends on.
Schedule: duration and sequencing assumptions.
Terms: payment, retainage, validity, and material escalation.
Acceptance: signature block.

Sample language you can adapt

Basis of bid

This proposal is based on drawings E0.1–E6.2 dated [date], specification sections 26 05 00 through 26 51 00, and Addenda 1 and 2. Work not shown on these documents is excluded.

Inclusions

Furnish and install lighting fixtures per the fixture schedule, including lamps and drivers.

New 225 A panel "LP-2" fed from existing switchgear, including feeder and breaker.

Receptacles, switches, occupancy sensors and plates as shown.

Empty conduit and boxes for data outlets, with pull strings.

Equipment connections for HVAC units shown on M-sheets.

Permits and inspections for the electrical scope.

Exclusions

Utility company fees and charges.

Cutting, patching and painting.

Fire alarm, security and data cabling (by others).

Motor starters, VFDs and controls unless shown on electrical drawings.

Trenching in rock or concrete removal.

Overtime or shift work not required by the bid schedule.

Bonds, unless requested (available at an additional [x]%).

Clarifications and assumptions

Existing switchgear has capacity and space for one 225 A breaker.

Work areas will be accessible and free of obstructions during normal working hours.

Ceiling heights do not exceed 14 feet.

Price is based on copper pricing as of [date] and is valid for 30 days.

Alternates

Alternate 1: Add dimming controls to open office lighting: add $[amount].

Alternate 2: Substitute MC cable for EMT in partition walls where permitted: deduct $[amount].

Unit prices

Additional duplex receptacle, including 20 feet of branch circuit: $[amount] each.

Additional 2×4 LED troffer, installed: $[amount] each.

Terms

Adapt these to your contracts and state law. Have an attorney review your standard terms before you rely on them.

Payment: Progress billing monthly based on percent complete, due within 30 days of invoice. Retainage not to exceed [x]%, released at substantial completion.

Changes: Changes in scope, sequence or schedule will be priced as a written change order before the work proceeds. Work directed without an agreed price will be performed on a time-and-material basis at the rates attached, with signed daily tickets.

Material escalation: This price is based on material costs as of [date]. If the price of copper wire, conduit or major equipment increases by more than [x]% between the proposal date and purchase, the contract sum will be adjusted by the documented difference.

Schedule: Price assumes continuous, sequential access to work areas per the bid schedule. Delays or re-sequencing by others are grounds for a time extension and cost adjustment.

Warranty: Workmanship warranted for one year from substantial completion unless the contract documents require otherwise. Manufacturer warranties pass through to the owner.

Validity: This proposal is valid for 30 days from the date above.

Example summary page

For a 4,000 ft² office tenant improvement (the worked example in how to bid electrical jobs):

Item	Amount
Base bid	$78,430
Alternate 1: dimming controls (add)	$6,100
Alternate 2: MC in partitions (deduct)	($2,280)
Unit price: additional duplex receptacle, incl. 20 ft of branch circuit	$80 each
Unit price: additional 2×4 LED troffer, installed	$207 each
Proposal valid through	[date, 30 days]

How the example numbers were built (illustrative costs):

Alternate 1: material $3,150 plus 22 hours × $62 = $1,364 of labor, for $4,514 direct cost. With 18% overhead and the base bid's 12.7% margin, $4,514 × 1.18 ÷ 0.873 = $6,101.40, shown as $6,100. Base bid plus Alternate 1 is $84,530.
Alternate 2: MC saves 38 labor hours (38 × $62 = $2,356) but costs $420 more in material, a direct saving of $1,936. This example credits the saving plus overhead, $1,936 × 1.18 = $2,284.48, shown as $2,280; decide your own policy on deducts, and never credit more than you'll actually save. Base bid less Alternate 2 is $76,150.
Receptacle unit price: 0.5 hours × $62 = $31 of labor plus $28 of material = $59, × 1.18 ÷ 0.873 = $79.75, shown as $80.
Troffer unit price: built from a labor unit in the NECA labor units guide: $153.50 direct cost × 1.18 ÷ 0.873 = $207.48, shown as $207.

Filling it in, section by section

Basis of bid: list every sheet number with its revision date, plus every addendum by number. This is your defense when the drawings change after award.
Scope of work: two or three sentences a project manager can read in ten seconds. Details go in inclusions.
Base bid: one number, matching the GC's bid form exactly. If the form asks for breakouts (lighting, power, fire alarm), make sure they add up to the base bid.
Inclusions and exclusions: write them for this job. A standard list is a starting point, not the answer.
Clarifications: anything your price depends on that the documents don't settle, such as existing capacity, ceiling heights, working hours, or who provides temporary power.
Acceptance: name, title, signature and date for the customer, and a statement that the accepted proposal becomes part of the contract.

Common proposal mistakes

Pricing from the drawings but not listing them, so later revisions look like your scope.
Copying last job's exclusions, including ones that contradict this job's specs.
Leaving alternates as "TBD," which the GC may level as zero or as a high plug.
Offering 90-day validity with no escalation clause on a copper-heavy job.
Forgetting the unit of measure on unit prices ("per receptacle" vs. "per receptacle including circuit").

Tips that win more bids

Match the GC's bid form. If they send a form, fill it exactly and attach your proposal behind it. The estimate template produces the numbers; this proposal presents them.
Acknowledge every addendum by number. Missing one can disqualify a bid.
Keep exclusions specific. "Excludes anything not shown" is weaker than a clear list.
Price alternates honestly. Inflated deducts get noticed.
Send it early. Proposals that arrive in the last ten minutes get the least attention.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between an estimate and a bid proposal?

An estimate is the calculation of cost and price. A bid proposal is the formal offer that states the price, scope, exclusions and terms, and becomes part of the contract when accepted.

What should be excluded from an electrical bid?

Common exclusions include utility fees, patching and painting, low-voltage systems not in your scope, trenching in rock, and work not shown on the documents you bid.

How long should an electrical proposal be valid?

Thirty days is common, because copper and equipment prices change. For longer validity, include a material escalation clause.

Generate the proposal from the estimate. SparkQuote builds your proposal from the takeoff, with your standard inclusions, exclusions and terms already filled in. See electrical bidding in SparkQuote.

Written by the SparkQuote editorial team. Sample language is for illustration; have your standard terms reviewed by your attorney. Last updated: October 6, 2026.

Electrical Bid Proposal Template