The cost codes used by BidConnect are the cost codes already set up in BuildPro. While BuildPro allows a builder to maintain multiple cost code sets, BidConnect can only use one cost code set. Therefore, the first step in up BidConnect for a division is to select the account set. This page allows the user to select a BuildPro account set that they want to use for bidding purposes. That account set will then become the default for that division. This may only be done once.

After selecting the account set, the builder may then select which account (cost) codes they want to use ("include") for bidding. The page contains two sections. The first section lists the Cost Codes from the selected BuildPro Account Set that will be "Included" for new bidding projects. The second section lists the Cost Codes from the selected BuildPro Account Set that will be "Excluded" for new bidding projects. Cost Codes may also be flagged as "Option Only" and "Takeoff" cost codes.

• Option Only - Cost codes flagged as "option only" allow the builder to map takeoff items to the cost code and it will only show up for the bidder to submit bids under the "Option Bids" section in SupplyPro and on the Bid Analysis option views (Options by Plans and Elevations, Options by Cost Code).

• Takeoff - Cost codes flagged as "takeoff" cost codes are used for takeoff bidding environments. This flag controls whether takeoff items can be mapped to the cost code and also provides "drill down" capabilities on Bid Analysis pages and for the bidder to submit bids for takeoff items in SupplyPro.

When a new project is created, the list of "Included" cost codes and their flags ("option only" and "takeoff") will be copied to the project. Users can then exclude cost codes from the project. After creating this master list of account codes, the user should then map the "included" cost codes to Bid Groups and then map subcontractors to bid groups.

Setting up cost codes, bid groups and mapping subcontractors to bid groups at the "master" level will then cause those relationships to be copied to any new project that is created from scratch using the New Project Wizard.

To manage master cost codes:

1. To mark a cost code as "Option Only" cost code, place a check mark in the "Option Only" column.

2. To mark a cost code as a "Takeoff" cost code, place a check mark in the "Takeoff" column.

3. To include cost codes in the master list of cost codes, click the Include check box next to each cost code you want to include that is under the Excluded Cost Codes section.

4. Click the Include All button at the top of the page to immediately move all Excluded Cost Codes into the Included Cost Codes. There is no way to automatically undo this action.

5. To exclude cost codes, click the Exclude check box next to each cost code you want to exclude that is under the Included Cost Codes section.

6. Click the Exclude All button at the top of the page to immediately move all Included Cost Codes into the Excluded Cost Codes. There is no way to automatically undo this action.

7. Click the Update button in the top right of the page to save the check marks in the "Option Only", "Takeoff" and "Exclude/Include" columns.

Master Cost Code Columns

• Code - This column displays the Cost Code and its description from the BuildPro Account Set being used

• Lvl - This column shows the cost code level from the Account Code Set from BuildPro allowing the user to select which level they want to use for bidding a particular cost code. BuildPro supports a multi level account set structure so the user can elect to bid at which ever level they choose on a cost code by cost code basis.

• Option Only - This column is used to mark a cost code as an "Option Only" cost code by placing a check mark in the check box for the cost code.

• Takeoff - This column is used to mark a cost code as a "Takeoff" cost code by placing a check mark in the check box for the cost code.

• Exclude/Include - This column of check boxes allows the user to select which cost codes they want to include or exclude from the master list of cost codes for bidding purposes. Placing a check mark in one of the check boxes and then clicking the Update button will move the cost code to the other list.