# Level subcontractor quotes

> Compare sub quotes item by item on the leveling board and carry the best covered bid into your budget.

Source: https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/guides/level-sub-quotes
Section: How to use Tidy

## 1. Set up the package

1. On your budget, click **Add assembly**, choose **Subcontract** and **Start blank** (or a saved contract scope from the library).
2. On **Overview**, set the **Package name**, **Scope category** and **Bids due** date.
3. Under **Inclusions**, click **+ Add inclusion** for each item of scope. Add sub-items where you need detail.
4. Add **Exclusions** and any scope narrative.

## 2. Add bidders

Click **Add a bidder**, tick vendors from your vendor list and pick each one's contact. This only adds their column. Tidy does not email them, so send your scope to subs the way you do today.

## 3. Enter prices

Open the **Bid levelling** tab. For each bidder, type their price against each inclusion they cover.

- A blank cell means not included.
- A 0 means included at no charge.
- You can paste a block of prices from Excel.

## 4. Read the board

Each column shows the bidder's total, how many items they cover and their rank. Coverage ranks first, then price. A cheap bid that misses scope ranks below a complete one.

## 5. Carry one

Click **Carry this** on the bidder you are going with. Their total becomes the package cost on the budget and flows to the proposal. Until you carry one, the package has no total.

## 6. Share it

Use **Export > Levelling board (PDF)** to send the comparison to your team or client.

## Let the agent help

Attach a sub's quote and say "Add these prices to the drywall package for Apex Interiors." The agent maps their line items to your inclusions and asks you to approve every price and any carry.

## Related

- [Subcontract leveling](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/features/subcontract-leveling)
- [Budgets](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/features/budgets)