03 — What competition is worth
More bidders goes with prices under the estimate
When a single bidder answers a construction call, the contract exceeds the buyer's estimate in 57% of cases. With six bidders or more, in 20%. The median contract goes from 105% to 83% of the estimate.
The same slope holds in services and goods. It is an association, not a demonstrated cause: a call that draws a single bidder may also be harder, more urgent or poorly estimated.
Construction
57%
44%
34%
30%
31%
20%
1
2
3
4
5
6+
Services
34%
26%
24%
19%
18%
17%
1
2
3
4
5
6+
Goods
38%
29%
27%
19%
19%
12%
1
2
3
4
5
6+
See the data
| Category · bidders | Contracts | Median contract / estimate | Above the estimate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goods · 1 | 792 | 95% | 38% |
| Goods · 2 | 887 | 88% | 29% |
| Goods · 3 | 606 | 86% | 27% |
| Goods · 4 | 351 | 77% | 19% |
| Goods · 5 | 175 | 76% | 19% |
| Goods · 6+ | 245 | 74% | 12% |
| Services · 1 | 683 | 91% | 34% |
| Services · 2 | 984 | 81% | 26% |
| Services · 3 | 812 | 79% | 24% |
| Services · 4 | 551 | 75% | 19% |
| Services · 5 | 411 | 73% | 18% |
| Services · 6+ | 913 | 77% | 17% |
| Construction · 1 | 449 | 105% | 57% |
| Construction · 2 | 949 | 97% | 44% |
| Construction · 3 | 1,165 | 90% | 34% |
| Construction · 4 | 965 | 89% | 30% |
| Construction · 5 | 775 | 87% | 31% |
| Construction · 6+ | 1,579 | 83% | 20% |
Free, no card: open notices from SEAO, CanadaBuys and the municipal portals we follow, filterable by what each notice demands, plus a saved search with an email alert. Your first submission is on us: every Business feature on one tender, with a card that is verified and never charged. or subscribe directly