Creating a Bid Form (One Base Bid Separate from Line Item Questions)
TIP: If you have Bid Forms that you want to use over and over, create a Bid Form Template. (See article "Create a Bid Form Template").
To create a new Bid Form within a Project, click “Add Bid Form” to the far right:
Creating a Bid Form
A Bid Form with the setting "Allow Base Bid?" "Yes", asks your vendors to enter their Base Bid, and respond to questions about what is included or excluded; and if excluded, allows vendors to provide an added cost for excluded items, which will then be added to the Base Bid and help level all bids.
A Bid Form using the setting
"Allow Base Bid?" "No" should be used when you want to break out or itemize line-item costs. Your vendor's total bid will be the sum of the line items. Contact our Support Team if you would like advice on which method might be best for your application.
Opening your PreconTabs module: Assuming you have PreconTabs activated, click on “Bid Form” in your Project Options list. It is best to click this AFTER you have selected all your Bidders:
To create a new Bid Form within a Project, click “Add Bid Form” to the far right:
Choose from:
- Blank Bid Form
- Blank Bid Form
- Duplicate Existing Bid Form
- From Template
CREATING A BLANK BID FORM
1. Name
your Bid Form: (eg. Structural Steel).
Make sure "Allow Base Bid?" setting is set to "Yes".
"For internal use only?": Set this to "No" if you want your invited vendors to fill out your Bid Form (this is the default method used by most users). Their bid responses are always kept private, viewable by your company users only.
Change to "Yes" if you want to make the vendors entries on their behalf, as if you would into a spreadsheet.2. Select the Trade(s): from your pull-down list
of all your trades on the right side of the screen.
3. Create a Category: (ie. Building 1, Site Concrete, Walls, etc.)
4. Create Line Items. Click the "+" button on the far right of the new Category heading.
There are four different line item types:
a) Add Instruction: Allows you to enter text instructions with no answer box.
b) Add Line: Allows you to enter line items, typically asking if certain items or services are included or excluded, and if excluded, allows vendors to enter line-item quantities and prices. Also allows you to set the line item as Required (which means vendors cannot submit the Bid Form unless they answer the Required field(s)).
Tip: You can enter a default Unit Quantity or default Cost per Unit, and lock that amount.
c) Add Text Line: Allows you to ask a question, which your vendor can type in an answer.
d) Add Yes/No Question: For simple Yes/No questions.
4. Create Line Items. Click the "+" button on the far right of the new Category heading.
There are four different line item types:
a) Add Instruction: Allows you to enter text instructions with no answer box.
b) Add Line: Allows you to enter line items, typically asking if certain items or services are included or excluded, and if excluded, allows vendors to enter line-item quantities and prices. Also allows you to set the line item as Required (which means vendors cannot submit the Bid Form unless they answer the Required field(s)).
Tip: You can enter a default Unit Quantity or default Cost per Unit, and lock that amount.
c) Add Text Line: Allows you to ask a question, which your vendor can type in an answer.
d) Add Yes/No Question: For simple Yes/No questions.
5. Editing or Deleting Line Items or Categories: Click the Pencil icon to edit a Category or Line Item, or the "x" icon to delete.
6. Add Alternate: Allows users to add Alternates below the main tabulation sheet. Your vendors can enter positive amounts for additions and negative amounts for deducts.
7. Click "Publish" when it is ready to use. A Bid Form can be edited in its same version up until an entry is made into the form by your users or one of your vendors, after which a new version will be created if edits are needed.
8. Versions: If there are more than one Version, a pulldown list of Versions will show in the upper left of the Bid Leveling screen.