Storm Sewer: what bids leave out
Three storm sewer bids for the same plan sheet can describe three different jobs. One prices pipe installation and excludes city-standard bedding, survey and testing. Another includes raising every existing manhole. A third lists two dozen exclusions, from rip-rap to connection fees. The totals can differ by 50% before anyone has made a pricing mistake.
Level your storm sewer bids with this checklist →
Standard scope checklist
Send this to every bidder and ask them to mark each line Included, Excluded or give an Add $. Silence is not inclusion.
| # | Scope item |
|---|---|
| 1 | Mobilization / demobilization |
| 2 | Construction staking |
| 3 | Utility locates, including private utility locates |
| 4 | Trench excavation & backfill |
| 5 | Pipe supply & install (material, diameters, linear feet) |
| 6 | Pipe bedding per municipal standard |
| 7 | New structures: manholes, inlets, area drains |
| 8 | Adjust / raise existing manholes to final grade |
| 9 | Connection to existing inlet or structure |
| 10 | Detention pond outlet structure |
| 11 | Downspout / roof drain connections |
| 12 | Subsurface drainage / underdrain |
| 13 | Rock and concrete collars at inlets |
| 14 | Rip-rap / scour protection at outfalls |
| 15 | Trench compaction & compaction testing |
| 16 | Pipe inspection or testing required by the city (CCTV, mandrel) |
| 17 | Dewatering |
| 18 | Unsuitable backfill replacement |
| 19 | Street cut, pavement and sidewalk removal & patch |
| 20 | Permits, plus connection, impact and frontage fees |
| 21 | Spoils haul-off |
| 22 | Silt fence / inlet protection during the work |
| 23 | Turf restoration over trenches (seed / sod) |
| 24 | Repair of unmarked private underground lines |
| 25 | As-built survey |
| 26 | Bonds, sales tax, winter / overtime conditions |
Common exclusions and how they are worded
| Exclusion | Typical wording | Why it matters | Typical cost to cover |
|---|---|---|---|
| City-standard bedding |
| Many cities require specific bedding stone around storm pipe. If a bid assumes native backfill, it is cheaper on paper and may fail inspection. | TBD |
| Survey & testing |
| You still need staking, compaction tests and possibly CCTV or mandrel testing for the city to accept the line. Budget them separately or make one bidder carry them. | TBD |
| Raising / adjusting existing manholes |
| Some bidders include adjusting existing structures to final grade; others leave it out. This alone can explain a big gap between bids. | TBD |
| Rock & concrete rings at inlets |
| Small items that often sit between the storm sewer, paving and concrete subs. If nobody carries them, they become a punch-list fight. | TBD |
| Dewatering & unsuitable backfill |
| Groundwater or bad soil in the trench costs real money. Ask for unit or daily prices so the risk is priced in advance. | TBD |
| Street cut, concrete removal & patch |
| Connecting to a public main often means cutting and patching pavement to city spec. If excluded, you need a paving or concrete sub to carry it. | TBD |
| Connection, impact & frontage fees |
| Utility fees are usually owner costs, but they can be significant and should be in your budget, not discovered at permit time. | TBD |
| Rip-rap & scour protection |
| Outfalls into ponds or ditches usually need rip-rap. It is often shown on civil sheets but excluded from pipe bids. | TBD |
| Restoration & silt fence |
| Trenches through finished areas need restoration, and erosion control is required during the work. Both are frequently excluded. | TBD |
| Damage to unmarked private lines |
| Public locates do not mark private lines such as site lighting or irrigation. Decide up front who locates them and who pays if one is hit. | TBD |
| Bonds, frost & overtime |
| Winter work (frost, ground thaw) and schedule-driven overtime can add cost. A bid that excludes them assumes ideal conditions. | TBD |
“Typical cost to cover” is TBD. We will publish ranges only once we have real, sourced data. Until then, use your own estimate or a confirmed add price from a bidder.
Questions to ask bidders
- What bedding did you price, and does it meet the city standard?
- Does your number include adjusting or raising existing manholes and inlets to final grade? How many?
- Who provides staking, compaction testing and any city-required pipe inspection?
- Does your price include connections to existing structures, the pond outlet structure and downspout connections?
- Is any street cut, pavement patch or sidewalk replacement included?
- What are your unit prices for dewatering and unsuitable backfill?
- Are permits or utility fees included? Which ones?
- Who is responsible for locating private underground lines?
Bid-ready storm sewer contractors
Contractors who agree to price against the standard checklist above, with exclusions spelled out line by line. Listings are not live yet.
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Your company · City, ST
Bids on the BidGaps checklist
Featured listing
Your company · City, ST
Bids on the BidGaps checklist