📐 Prepare your bid submission

Submitting a bid on a prevailing wage job is not just about price – it’s about showing that you understand and acknowledge the wage requirements tied to the project. Even when wage determinations are not explicitly requested as attachments, agencies and prime contractors expect bidders to have reviewed and priced them correctly.

This step is about reducing risk and avoiding post-award disputes by making your wage assumptions clear and defensible.

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Reference wage determinations

Most bid packages require you to identify which wage determination applies to the work, even if you are not asked to attach the full document.
Referencing the wage determination number, effective date, and classification scope demonstrates that your pricing is based on the correct labor requirements.

Best practice is to keep a copy of the referenced wage determination with your estimate in case questions arise later.

Attach wage determinations (optional)

Some agencies or prime contractors request wage determinations to be attached to the bid package, while others do not.
When attachments are optional, including the wage determination can help clarify assumptions and reduce back-and-forth after award – especially on projects with multiple wage schedules or classifications.

If you attach wage determinations, make sure they match the version and effective date used in your estimate.

Key Takeaway

Your bid submission doesn’t need to explain prevailing wage – but it should clearly reflect that you priced the job using the correct wage determination.
Referencing (and sometimes attaching) the wage determination protects you by locking in the assumptions behind your bid.