What term describes the cost of adding an item to a project bid?

The term that describes the cost of adding an item to a project bid is "Additive alternate." In construction bidding, an additive alternate refers to additional work that can be included in the project for an added cost. This allows the owner or the contractor to select from various options during the bidding process, effectively giving them flexibility in terms of budget and project scope. By including additive alternates in a bid, bidders can provide an estimate for certain specifications or enhancements that are not part of the base bid, enabling the decision-makers to prioritize which extras might be included based on available funds or project goals.

The context of this term is important; it emphasizes the process in which costs can be outlined for additional work while keeping the base proposal intact. This differs from the other terms. A deductive alternate, for instance, involves reducing the project scope and price, while contract modification generally refers to changes that adjust the original contract terms rather than the initial bidding amounts. A supplemental proposal could suggest additional services or changes but is not specifically characterized by the action of adding costs directly to a project bid. Thus, "Additive alternate" precisely encapsulates the cost strategy of augmenting a project bid.