👥 Who it’s for: Estimators, Chief Estimators, Precon Managers
🗓 When to use it: Week 1 of the bid, and again after each addendum
Allowances, alternates and unit prices are spread across the specs, Division 01, the bid form and the addenda. Some allowances are hidden in a spec section, not listed in Division 01. Miss one and your number is wrong, or your bid isn't complete. Muro pulls them into one list, with the source for each.
At a glance
📁 Add these files | Specifications · Division 00 and 01 · Bid form · Instructions to bidders (ITB) · Addenda · Contract or agreement · Optional: your scoping sheet |
📄 You get | An allowance list with amounts, a unit price and add/deduct alternate list, and a summary of the commercial terms, each with its source |
⏱ Takes about | A few minutes per step |
Example output (illustrative data)
What to ask
1. Find every allowance:
List every allowance in the specs, Division 01, bid instructions and addenda, including allowances buried in individual spec sections. Show the amount and source for each.
2. Pull the unit prices and alternates:
List every unit price and add/deduct alternate from the bid form, ITB, Division 01 and addenda.
3. Review the commercial terms:
Review Division 00 and 01 and the contract for payment, retainage, insurance, bonding, prevailing wage and cost-shifting terms. Flag anything that affects our number.
Go further:
Which allowances are owner-directed and should stay out of our base number?
Compare the allowances against my scoping sheet and show what's missing.
What changed in the alternates since Addendum 2?
Tips & best practices
✅ Check the hidden ones. Allowances found only in a spec section are the easiest to miss. Click the source link to confirm each one. See How Muro cites its sources.
💡 Add every addendum. Addenda often add, delete or change alternates and allowance amounts.
💡 Add your scoping sheet. Muro can then show which allowances are already in your scope and which aren't.
✅ Run it again after each addendum and ask what changed.
Good to know
Muro lists what the documents say. It doesn't price alternates or unit prices for you.
If the bid form and the specs disagree, Muro shows both and the source of each.
The commercial terms review flags risk. It isn't legal advice, so have your contracts team review anything important.