Read the qualifications before the totals
The bottom line is the least reliable figure in a tender return, because it hides whatever the covering letter carved out. Read the qualifications and exclusions first, list them, then look at the price they belong to. A keen number under a paragraph of exclusions is a partial price for a partial job.
Updated: 22 August 2026
Levelling and choosing between tenders
More tips on the same part of the job.
