Compare subcontractor quotes for the same package, not just the same total.
Trade quotes come back itemised, as lump sums, with different breakdowns and a page of exclusions. QuantDoc matches what can be matched, separates what can’t, and shows how much each gap could cost before the lowest price stops being the lowest.
Exclusions, read from the source
The problem with subcontract totals
When three electricians, plumbers or formwork crews price the same package, the totals usually differ for reasons that have nothing to do with efficiency. One includes the switchboard and another leaves it “by builder”. One allows for after-hours work, another qualifies it out. One breaks rough-in and fit-off into separate lines; another gives a single number with a list of assumptions underneath.
Comparing those totals directly rewards whoever excluded the most. The fair comparison is on complete scope: the same work, priced or explicitly included in every quote, with anything outstanding either priced by you or marked as unknown. That is how estimators level trade packages, and it is what QuantDoc does with every subcontractor quote you upload.
Worked example: one subcontractor excludes the switchboard
Two electrical subcontract quotes. Subcontractor B is cheaper on rough-in and fit-off but excludes the main switchboard. The results below come from the QuantDoc engine.
Example data · calculated by the QuantDoc engine
Two electrical subcontract quotes, one excluding the switchboard
What was quoted
- Subcontractor A: Rough-in $18,400, fit-off $9,600, main switchboard supply and install $4,200 (ex GST).
- Subcontractor B: Rough-in $17,900, fit-off $9,100 (ex GST). Exclusion: "Main switchboard excluded (by builder)".
INCOMPLETE — Subcontractor A is the lowest fully-priced quote, but Subcontractor B has unknown costs. No overall winner can be declared yet.
Line-by-line matching (3 items)
| Item | Supplier | Match | Normalised rate (ex GST) | Amount (ex GST) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical rough-in | Subcontractor A | Exact equivalent | $18,400.00 / lump sum | $18,400.00 |
| Subcontractor B | Exact equivalent | $17,900.00 / lump sum | $17,900.00 | |
| Electrical fit-off | Subcontractor A | Exact equivalent | $9,600.00 / lump sum | $9,600.00 |
| Subcontractor B | Exact equivalent | $9,100.00 / lump sum | $9,100.00 | |
| Main switchboard supply and install | Subcontractor A | Exact equivalent | $4,200.00 / each | $4,200.00 |
| Subcontractor B | Missing item | — | Unknown |
| Supplier | As quoted (ex GST) | Like-for-like | Complete scope |
|---|---|---|---|
| Subcontractor A | $32,200.00 | $28,000.00 | $32,200.00 |
| Subcontractor B | $27,000.00 | $27,000.00 | Incomplete (supply unknown) |
2 flags raised · 6 clarification questions drafted
- Subcontractor B: supply not mentioned
- Subcontractor B: no matching item for "Main switchboard supply and install"
The break-even threshold is simple arithmetic on the figures QuantDoc extracted:
Subcontractor A complete scope = $18,400 + $9,600 + $4,200 = $32,200.00 ex GST Subcontractor B known price = $17,900 + $9,100 = $27,000.00 ex GST Break-even for B’s missing scope = $32,200.00 − $27,000.00 = $5,200.00
What QuantDoc reads in a subcontractor quote
Breakdowns and lump sums
Itemised lines are matched across quotes. Lump sums are compared at the level they are priced, and the comparison says when a finer breakdown isn’t available.Exclusions and qualifications
Text such as “by builder”, “by others”, “excluded” and “not included” is linked to the affected scope component, so it changes the complete-scope view.Silence
If a required component is not mentioned at all, it is recorded as not mentioned, a different status from included, and its cost is unknown.TBA and provisional amounts
“TBA”, “to be advised” and provisional sums are kept visible as unknowns or estimates, never as zero.Arithmetic
Lines, subtotals and GST are recalculated with decimal arithmetic. Differences are flagged as possible calculation issues for you to query.Terms
Validity, payment terms and lead times are extracted and listed alongside price, because a cheap quote that expires tomorrow is a risk too.
From comparison to clarification
Most gaps in subcontract pricing are resolved with a phone call or an email, provided you ask the right question. For every exclusion, missing item, TBA price or conditional match, QuantDoc drafts a specific clarification question, such as asking Subcontractor B to confirm whether the main switchboard is included and, if not, to price its supply and installation. Questions are grouped into a draft email per subcontractor. They are never sent automatically: you edit and send them.
When a revised quote comes back, you upload it and the comparison updates. The report you export, as PDF, Excel or CSV, shows the original figures, the source of each figure, the adjustments made and what remains unknown, which gives you a record you can put in front of a project manager or client.
QuantDoc doesn’t judge whether a subcontractor is competent, whether a qualification is reasonable, or whether a rate is fair for the market. It doesn’t consult external pricing sources. It makes sure the quotes in front of you are compared on the same scope, with the gaps priced or clearly labelled.
Frequently asked questions
Can QuantDoc compare an itemised subcontract quote with a lump sum?
Yes, with care. Where one subcontractor itemises and another gives a single figure, the lump sum can only be compared on the total, and QuantDoc says so. Items that only appear in the itemised quote are flagged so you can ask the lump-sum subcontractor whether they are included.
How are subcontractor exclusions handled?
Exclusions and qualifications are extracted from the quote text and tied to the scope component they affect, such as installation, delivery, disposal or mobilisation. An excluded component makes that subcontractor’s complete-scope price unknown until you price it, rather than being quietly ignored.
What does the break-even figure mean?
When one subcontractor’s price has a gap, QuantDoc calculates how much the missing part could cost before that quote stops being cheaper than the most complete one. For example: if the gap costs less than the threshold, the cheaper-looking quote is still cheaper overall.
Does QuantDoc decide whether a qualification is acceptable?
No. Qualifications, exclusions and other contractual points are listed as issues for professional review. QuantDoc does not give legal advice or decide contractual entitlement.
Can I level subcontractor quotes against my own scope or BOQ?
Yes. Importing a scope or bill of quantities as the baseline for tender levelling is included in the Professional and Business plans. See the tender levelling page for how each quote is matched against the baseline.
Related
- QuantDoc for estimatorsLevel trade packages and surface scope gaps quickly.
- Tender levellingMatch every quote against your scope or BOQ.
- How to compare subcontractor quotesA step-by-step method with worked arithmetic.
- Identifying exclusionsWhere exclusions hide and how to price them.
- Scope gap analysisExcluded, silent and TBA items, with break-even thresholds.
- PricingFree preview, then monthly plans in US dollars, billed monthly.
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