There is invariably a de-bugging cycle that will continue past the completion of installation. This practice should be avoided at all costs by researching all available products or systems, and selecting one that requires little or no customisation. Further, all affected parties should be aware of this situation up front. Also vital is a very detailed performance specification outlining exactly how this customisation is to operate and perform. Bidding Pitfalls 4.
Bids are well in excess of budget.
In this case, bidders are forced to make assumptions, and may even be adding-in generous contingencies to cover the vagueness. One indicator of this problem is a wide spread in the bids. Bids can't be accurately compared. Unless a properly written, detailed audio-visual specification forms part of the bid package, the bidders are not bidding on the same basis and bids cannot be compared . In the complete absence of a specification, you do not really have bids, but, rather, a series of proposals from the various bidders.