Issue link: https://construction.trimble.com/en/resources/i/1520113
Optimize Electronic Bidding Systems Specialized estimating software opens the door for contractors to take full advantage of electronic bidding systems (EBS). Companies – including those specializing in Department of Transportation work – bid faster and more accurately by automating time consuming tasks and replacing manual data entry with easy import and export capabilities. DOT Advantages A good estimating application comes with the built-in ability to download and leverage the specific pay items established by every state DOT to populate an estimate. These DOT databases include item numbers, descriptions and units of measure for each item that each particular state may require on its bid forms. Contractors can identify the DOT items or templates they frequently bid on and populate them in advance with their own costs so they adhere exactly to the DOT requirements. Fast Importing and Exporting Bids for states supporting electronic bidding can then be created in minutes. Estimators import an electronic DOT bid form and match it to a DOT database that they have already established. The software will search its internal DOT database of templates for any items that match the required items in the bid, and copy them into the estimate automatically, including the quantities from the bid the DOT put out, and all the labor, equipment, crew costs and material cost from the estimating software database of templates. The need to manually choose and enter the items is eliminated. Estimators can then proceed immediately to reviewing the estimate, modifying crews and changing any costs as necessary. When the bid is complete, they easily export to a bid file and submit electronically. "We download the bid forms, transfer the data from the estimating software and upload the formatted bid with literally a few clicks of the mouse." 6