Bidding Problems and Alligators

I was in Tampa, Florida on April 10 (also my 60th birthday!!) teaching an all day class on "When Bad Things Happen to Bids: Strategies for Ensuring a Successful Public Construction Project."  

Sign outside the classroom at the Florida State Fairgrounds in Tampa

Holding an alligator!  During the lunch break, I got to hold an alligator that an instructor from another class had brought in!  

 

Mike Purdy holding a Florida alligator!

Additional offerings of the course:  I'm scheduled to be teaching this NIGP sponsored class again this year in Texas (San Marcos and McKinney), Ohio (Cleveland), Minnesota (Bloomington), Pennsylvania (Philadelphia), and Maryland (Annapolis).

Course outline:  Here's an outline of the course "When Bad Things Happen to Bids":

Why Aren’t Bidders More Careful?

• Why Do Bidders Make Mistakes?
• Missing Bid Prices
• Conflict Between Numbers and Words
• Bid Calculation Errors
• Claims of Error

Is Your Bidder Playing Games?

• Bid is Too Low
• Unbalanced Bids
• Conditioned or Qualified Bids

Will the Real Low Bidder Please Stand Up?

• Additive and Alternate Bids
• Tie Bids
• Responsive Bids
• Responsible Bidders
• Local Bid Preferences
• Bid Protests and Appeals
• Conflicts of Interest

What Can You Do to Manage Bidding?

• What Should Be on the Bid Form?
• Why Should You Limit Submissions with the Bid?
• On What Days Should You Not Receive Bids?
• When is a Bid Late?
• When Should You Take a Bid Guaranty?

More information about the course:  Visit NIGP's website for additional information about the course. 

Other NIGP courses:  I'm also teaching the following two classes for NIGP:

• Best Practices for Developing Successful Public Construction Bid Documents

• Tools for Ensuring Contractor Performance on Public Construction Projects

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