Securing bids from contractors that can be compared on an apples-to-apples basis can be a challenging process. Often, vendors approach bids differently and may or may not include certain items a framing contractor wants in their initial bids, only to charge for them later in the process. 

To address this issue, the Product Standards Committee of the National Framers Council (NFC) has developed this Microsoft Excel-based template for framing contractors called the Standard Vendor Bid Checklist. 

The checklist includes several standard items every vendor should review and cost out in their bids, and also has space for framing contractors to add their own items. Initially, the checklist has tabs for floor trusses, roof trusses, panelized walls, rod systems, and wood stairs. The checklist template can be customized with a company logo and includes customization options for every project.