When the SupplyPro user clicks on the Project Bid tab for a project, they get the screen that will allow them to enter their bid(s) for the cost codes the builder has invited them to bid on. There are two basic pages; Base House and Options. Each of the pages shows the cost codes the supplier has been invited to bid on.
The BidConnect bid entry pages use a “wild card” schema that allows the user to enter their bids at the most appropriate level.
Within each cost code, the supplier can enter a single bid for the cost code or expand the cost code to submit their bid at the plan/elevation level.
If the cost code is a take-off cost code, there will be a bid entry line for each take-off item with the ability to drill down to a plan/elevation level for the take-off item if necessary
If the supplier expands the view to a lower level and then determines that they can submit a single bid amount at a higher level, a confirmation message will be displayed to verify that they want to override their lower level bid with a higher level one (collapsing a section without entering new data will return the original bid data entered).
Supplies may also “save” a bid. This allows them to enter partial bid data and save it until they are ready to submit it.
Filters
There are two radio buttons (Base House Bids and Option Bids) that determine whether the user is entering base house or options bids (base house is the default).
Clicking on one of the buttons switches the “mode” of the page for entering data for the radio button selection.
The page contains a drop list to filter the page by cost code (“All Cost Codes” is the default).
The filters (radio button and cost code filter) will be applied when the user clicks on the Show Bids button.
Columns on the Project Bid page
Cost Code / Take-off Item – This column will display the cost code and cost code description separated by a dash. If the cost code is a takeoff cost code, this column will also include the takeoff item and its description separated by a dash.
Plan – This column contains the plan number and name separated by a dash. It is only populated when the cost code is expanded.
Elevation – This column contains the elevation code when the plan is expanded.
Sq. Ft. – This column contains the square feet of the plan/elevation. It is only shown when the plan and elevation is shown.
UOM – This column contains the Unit of Measure for takeoff items.
Qty – This column contains the quantity for takeoff items.
If the builder has made quantities editable (indicated by a icon next to the project name on this tab) you will be able to enter or edit the quantity for takeoff items:
You will see the builders quantity inside a text box which will allow you to edit the quantity, or
You will see a blank box for entering the takeoff item quantity.
When submitting your bid, takeoff item quantity edit boxes may not be left blank.
Amount – This column is used for the supplier to enter their unit cost bid amount (also see Entering Bids section).
Bid entry amounts may contain; $, 0 – 0, comma, period (decimal point), and up to 4 decimal places
Negative bid entry amounts should contain a minus sign or be enclosed in parenthesis.
Buttons / Actions
Trade Documents – Clicking on the Trade Documents button will open a new window with the list of trade documents the builder has uploaded for the cost codes the supplier is assigned to (see SupplyPro Trade Documents)
Download or view project trade documents
Show Bids – Clicking on the Show Bids button will display the bid data entry grid based on the radio button selected (Base House Bids or Option Bids).
Drawings – Clicking on the Drawings button will open a new window with the list of drawings the builder has uploaded for the bidding project (see SupplyPro Drawings).
View drawings and use the take-off tool
Download project drawings
Print Bid – Clicking on the Print Bid will open a new window for printing the bid data the supplier has entered.
Save Bid – Clicking on the Save Bid button will save the bid data the supplier has entered without submitting it to the builder (see Saving Bids section).
Submit Bid – Clicking on the Submit Bid button will submit the bid to the builder (see Submitting Bids section).
Saving Bids
If the user clicks on the Save button, their current bid data is saved and no validity or completeness checks are performed (some fields can be empty).
This button does not appear once the supplier has entered their bid for the project.
Entering Bids
Expanded for Plans:
Suppliers may enter their bids at the cost code or takeoff item level, at the plan level, or at an elevation level.
Accessed by clicking on the next to a cost code or takeoff item will expand the view to show the plans and elevations.
All columns and data entry fields are the same as the base view
To collapse the expanded view, click on the next to the cost code or takeoff item
A confirmation box will appear to let the user know that their plan/elevation level bid will be wild carded for the plans & elevations
Click on the OK button to collapse the bid view and enter a "wild card" the bid
Click on the Cancel button to retain the individual bids entered (the bid view will not be collapsed)
Expanded for Elevations:
Accessed by clicking on the next to a plan will expand the view to show the elevations.
To collapse the expanded view, click on the next to the plan
Submitting Bids
When the user clicks on the “Submit” button the following checks are performed
Every cost code & take-off item must have a valid bid
If the supplier decided to enter a single number for a cost code or take-off item for all plans & elevations the bid amount in the single entry box will be copied to each plan/elevation for the cost code and/or take-off item as appropriate.
A wild card indicator will be stored with the bid so that when the supplier brings up the bid page again the data will be displayed the same way they entered it.
A valid bid will be any numeric value including negative numbers (which can include a minus sign or parenthesis)
As long as any cost code or take-off item has a blank entry the bid cannot be submitted and clicking on the “Submit” button will alert them that they have blank entry fields and will highlight them in red.
If a “revised” bid is submitted, an email is sent to the BidConnect Project Contact for the bid project.
The supplier must submit all of their “base house” bids or “option” bids at once
If the supplier has been invited to bid on 3 cost codes they must submit the data for all 3 cost codes at the same time.