Best Commercial Bidding Sites for Construction Contractors

The construction industry moves fast, making it challenging to stay updated on what new opportunities are gracing the market. This is where bidding websites become helpful for construction stakeholders and contractors looking to secure the best projects. However, with hundreds of bidding platforms coming out every year, choosing the best one can be a bit overwhelming. Below is a list of popular commercial bidding websites in alphabetical order that have the potential to contain excellent leads for your construction business.

1. BidCentral

BidCentral.ca is said to be the largest construction bidding website for sourcing bids and projects. With listings collectively worth over $30 billion, users can access comprehensive project details and opportunities based on their criteria. Thanks to a built-in reminder system, new project opportunities are mailed straight to your inbox daily. The platform also organizes documents into categories, so that they can be found easily and efficiently.

Main Features

• Gives access to thousands of public and private construction projects. 
• Provides complete project details, including documents, plans, and contact information. 
• Contractors can be easily invited to submit bids. 
• Offers real-time (and transparent) monitoring of a bidding process. 

Pricing

BidCentral has a free version that comes with basic features. It also offers Premium plans at $80 monthly and $875 annually. Both plans offer complete access, but you should still contact their sales to find if a plan can be tailored to your needs.

2. BidClerk

BidClerk.com is one of the premier construction bidding sites with nearly half a million annual submissions. Each project contains everything a key decision-maker would want to know before placing a bid. Combined with powerful search filters, users get complete visibility into various stages of a project’s lifecycle. The platform also lets users save tags that can be searched repeatedly with a click of a button without setting up new searches every day, making the bidding process easier and more efficient. 

Main Features

• Project listings are highly detailed with key information such as estimated values, bidding dates, certifications, building details, contact details, etc. 
• Projects can be filtered based on location, project phase, building type, and other construction-related parameters to give contractors diverse opportunities. 
• User-friendly interface lets contractors quickly find and bid on projects aligned with their expertise.  
• Supports LinkedIn integration to let contractors and construction professionals build their business network.
• Frequent updates ensure accurate information about new and existing projects. 

Pricing

BidClerk features a free demo alongside three premium project plans that do not reveal their membership costs. You must contact their sales representative to find the best plan for your company and confirm its final pricing. 

3. BidNetDirect

BidNetDirect.com is another commercial bidding website worth mentioning here. Formerly known as Government Bids, it focuses on government or state-backed projects as well as government procurement and government RFPs at the local, state, and federal levels. While the name may suggest so, the platform is not overseen by any government agency or regulatory body. 

Main Features

• Users get daily updates about new and existing bids based on their criteria. 
• Projects can be filtered based on categories, regions, keywords, etc. 
• Offers bidding advice, case studies, white papers, and newsletters. 

Pricing

In addition to a free version that only allows access to member bids, you can choose from three different membership plans. 

• Group Agencies: Costs $9 per month and allows access to member bids, real-time bid alerts, and advanced search filters. 
• State and Local: Costs $36 per month and includes everything above plus daily bid notifications and state/local bids. 
• Federal, State, and Local: Costs $45 per month and includes every above plus federal bids.

4. ConstructConnect

ConstructConnect.com is another popular commercial bidding website. Formerly known as iSqFt, the CMD Group platform is a leading provider of market intelligence, data, and analytics in North America. Subcontractors get access to actionable bid data and the opportunity to connect with leading general contractors. In addition, the platform uses takeoff software solutions to make bidding and retaining easy and simple.

Main Features

• Offers access to a comprehensive database of public and private construction projects. 
• Users can access detailed leads on various phases of construction projects.
• Offers access to CMD data, market forecasts, market analyses, and market trends, alongside other construction software solutions. 
• Facilitates collaboration and networking between industry professionals and stakeholders. 

Pricing

ConstructConnect can be tried for free by scheduling a demo. In terms of payment plans, it supports three different memberships. 

• Starter Plan: Costs $130 per month, and gives you one license for a single market, details and contacts on all bidding projects, automatic recommendations, and saved searches. 
• Professional Plan: Stats at $180 per month, and gives you complete bidding documents, bidder information, and planning projects.
• Pro + Takeoff Plan: Varies in cost. You must contact their sales team for an accurate quote. 

5. ConstructionBidSource

ConstructionBidSource.com stands out for small and medium-sized contractors seeking targeted opportunities on a budget. It is one of the oldest construction bidding websites on the list that looks to connect contractors, subcontractors, and suppliers with project owners. The online publication provides leads on bids and projects and lets contractors view bid dates while filtering projects by location. This is one commercial bidding site where every bid is vetted by a real person. 

Main Features

• Offers targeted opportunities in localized construction bids and government contracts. 
• User-friendly interface helps users filter projects based on location, categories, etc. 
• Allows you to do auto-pilot project searches.
• Comes without any hidden (regional or tier) pricing. 
• Offers free consultation with industry professionals. 

Pricing

ConstructionBidSource offers various subscription plans to cover affordability and flexibility, including an attractive free plan. 

• Free Membership: Offers advanced search, trade advertising, outreach ads, and owner contact information. What you do not get are email notifications and bid documents.  
• Monthly Membership: Coming in at $50 per month, you get everything plus email notifications and bid documents. 
• Half-Year Membership: The same as a monthly membership except that for $270 every six months, you save $10 percent on membership fees. That becomes 20 percent savings annually. 
• Annual Membership: The final tier comes at $540 per year. It also has the same features but with the additional incentive of a 10 percent saving for what you would normally pay for the same period. 

6. ConstructionWire

ConstructionWire.com is one of the oldest and leading commercial bidding websites around, especially for new (and upcoming) commercial and private projects. The platform provides three in-depth reports (project, company, and people reports) that give an excellent overview of each project. The bidding platform also helps subcontractors connect with the people involved by supplying their contact information.

Main Features

• Users get access to three main databases: projects, companies, and people. 
• Every project posted is thoroughly vetted to ensure legitimacy.
• Projects can be filtered based on project names, company names, project reports, etc. 
• Users can create targeted alerts that automatically find and recommend new projects based on the set criteria. 

Pricing

Construction Wire offers a week-long free trial, after which you must choose a membership plan based on your needs. Their sales representative are highly trained to find the best plan for you based on regional, national, data, and pricing requirements.

7. DodgeConstructionNetwork

Construction.com is a subsidiary of McGraw Hill Financial that operates independently. Dodge Global Network runs the platform in conjunction with Dodge Data & Analytics, offering users impressive amounts of data that can be used to find the right projects. It also provides in-depth overviews of companies and project data, which while beneficial for user projects can be a bit pricey. 

Main Features

• Offers data-driven decision-making based on robust analytics and in-depth market insights. 
• Provides additional information such as graphs and maps for improved data visualization. 
• Alerts users with relevant opportunities in their markets based on personalized recommendations. 
• Connects businesses with industry professionals for various networking opportunities.

Pricing

DodgeConstructionNetwork features several subscription plans with varying features. However, their prices are not transparent. You must speak with one of their sales representatives to find a tailored plan and its price. 

There is also a free demo that allows you to only search for projects in North America with limited filters. You can only get a project with a premium subscription plan, alongside advanced search filters.

8. PlanHub

PlanHub.com stands out as a valuable commercial bidding website for both subcontractors and general contractors. It partners with third-party cloud services and pre-construction software companies to offer a diverse range of contract opportunities. With a growing number of industry professionals relying on PlanHub as their commercial bidding platform, general contractors can easily and quickly grow their network of qualified subcontractors.

Main Features

• General contractors can invite subcontractors and other stakeholders to submit bids for free. 
• Subcontractors can submit multiple bids simultaneously. 
• Offers unlimited cloud-based storage and access. 
• Offers unlimited team members or companies of all sizes. 
• Ensures transparency throughout the bidding process.

Pricing

PlanHub features a free version and a demo that you can request for free. It is one of the few commercial bidding websites with a comprehensive membership system for different users. 

General Contractors: 

• Essentials plan is free. 
• Pro, Premier, and Enterprise plans are available upon request. To find the best plan option, schedule a call with their sales representative. 

Subcontractors: 

• Premier Plan:
  • 25-mile radius: $1200 per year
  • 50-mile radius: $2100 per year
  • 100-mile radius: $2400 per year
  • 200-mile radius: $3300 per year
• Enterprise plan requires you to contact the sales team for a quote.

Suppliers: 

• Free trial available upon request. 
• Pro and Nationwide plans require you to call for quotes.

Takeoff and Estimation:

• Takeoff with Premier costs $50 monthly, or save 36 percent by paying annually. 
• Takeoff Only costs $91 per month or paid annually.

9. SAM

SAM.gov is home to all current contract opportunities formerly posted to FBO.gov. There is no fee to register, and it is free to use and see opportunities. Subcontractors must use the advanced search function to specify the type of contract. One of the downsides of using SAM over other commercial bidding websites is that it is clunky. It can be hard to find jobs that match your company’s interests or get to the right page. However, it is free and can lead to excellent opportunities for those with the patience to learn it.

Main Features

• Registration is necessary to become eligible to do business with the U.S. government.
• Lists all federal construction opportunities under one roof to identify potential contracts.
• Excludes all companies and entities that are suspended, disbarred, or facing legal actions. 

Pricing

SAM only allows you to create a free account.

Which Commercial Bidding Website Is Best for You?

Several factors must be considered when choosing the right construction bidding platform for your company. The membership cost is a good point to start from. While most bidding websites offer a free demo or trial version, they all have payment tiers that grant access to various features. 

This brings us to the second factor: the features you plan to use. There’s no point in paying for the most expensive membership if you are not using its features. Carefully read through the description to confirm what meets your criteria. 

Lastly, your projects determine the type of bidding website to go for. For example, a contractor looking for government opportunities will likely want to sign up for a platform that lists government projects.

How eSUB Helps Contractors and Subcontractors

eSUB is a cloud-based project management platform built especially for subcontractors. It seamlessly integrates with leading construction software systems so you can easily switch from your current document process to a cloud-based system to upgrade your construction project management process.

eSUB organizes all your project information in one place, allows for smooth collaboration, and streamlines communication through its intuitive interface. It also works on your mobile, so you can track projects on the go—no matter where or when—and stay up-to-date.