How to price a tender BOQ competitively
Price is where a compliant bid becomes a winning one — or a loss you regret for a year. Pricing a Bill of Quantities (BOQ) well means being competitive and profitable, not just low. Here's a grounded approach.
1. Read the BOQ and TDS together
Understand exactly what's being priced — quantities, specifications, and the conditions that affect cost (site, timeline, delivery terms). Mispricing usually starts with misreading scope.
2. Cost each item honestly
Build your rates from real inputs — materials, labour, plant, transport — at today's prices, not last year's. Pad nothing you can't justify, cut nothing you'll actually incur.
3. Add overheads and a real margin
Layer in overheads, financing (securities tie up cash), risk and a margin you can live with. A "win" priced below cost is the most expensive kind of loss.
4. Know the going rate
The single biggest edge is knowing the evaluated price range that actually wins this kind of work for this kind of buyer. Price into that range from the top of it — as high as you can while staying competitive — rather than guessing low out of fear.
5. Don't buy the job
Racing to the lowest number wins contracts that lose money. If the winnable price is below your viable cost, the right move is a disciplined no-bid, not a suicidal bid.
How Tenderytics helps
Tenderytics shows who tends to win a buyer or category and the price context around it — so you set your BOQ price with evidence, not a guess, and protect your margin while staying competitive. Always base final rates on your own verified costs and the specific tender terms.
Frequently asked
Should I always bid the lowest price?
No. The award goes to the lowest evaluated responsive bid — being viable and compliant matters more than being cheapest. Winning below cost is a loss.
How do I know the winning price range?
Market awareness — what similar work has sold for, for similar buyers. Tenderytics surfaces that award and price context so you're not pricing blind.