BID2WIN Software Inc. | Products | BID2WIN Estimating & Bidding Specifications

Specifications

General

Feature	Description	Basic	Professional	Enterprise
Shared License Pool	A shared license pool allows one set of licenses to be shared among all users tying into a particular server, even if they are using different Resources/Estimate databases.
Multiple Database Support	Support for multiple databases on a single server allows support for multiple regions or corporate divisions without purchasing additional hardware.
Advanced Estimate Security	Permissions assignable to user groups allows control over creation, modification and deletion of estimates.
BID2WIN Management Reporting	The browser-based BID2WIN Management Reporting automatically combines estimate and bid information from multiple BID2WIN databases into its data warehouse on an adjustable schedule. Quickly generate cross-divisional reports to view estimate summary information from across your company. Also, subscribe to reports for automatic e-mail distribution on a defined daily, weekly, or monthly schedule.
BID2WIN Mobile Estimating	BID2WIN Mobile Estimating is an automated way to check out a BID2WIN license, resources and bids from the server to temporarily use BID2WIN offsite. BID2WIN Mobile Estimating is ideal for companies that want the flexibility to work on the road, or to download the bid locally from a remote server for closing during bid day.
User-based Security	Permissions assignable to user groups allows control over creation, modification and deletion of information throughout resources. This gives the administrator fine-grained control over which users may modify information.
Estimate Folders	The ability to create estimate folders not only allows for better organization and quicker estimate lookup, but also sets the stage for BID2WIN’s advanced estimate security features.
File Attachments	Attaching files directly to your estimate means that important documents – such as project specifications, blueprints, or jobsite photos – are always at your fingertips.
Support For Windows Regional Settings	The currency, date, time and number formatting for the selected Windows locale is applied to all values in BID2WIN, including the appropriate currency symbol for currency values. This formatting information is used both on-screen and in reports.
Integrated Windows Security	Each user account may be tagged with a Windows domain account, allowing automatic user authentication without users seeing a login screen at program startup. This prevents users from having to remember yet another user name and password, while preventing unauthorized users from accessing the estimating system.
Administration Tool	A separate administration application allows the administrator to configure user and group account information and view licensing information without consuming a user license.
Online Backup	Microsoft SQL Server’s online back up functionality allows a system administrator to backup the BID2WIN databases even when estimators are using the application.
High Availability Installations	Microsoft SQL Server’s support for high availability configurations—including failover clustering, backup servers, log shipping, etc.—allows system administrators to enhance the reliability of the BID2WIN server based on your company’s requirements.
Microsoft SQL Server Included for Up to 5 Users	The installation program automatically installs and configures Microsoft SQL Server Desktop Engine if configuring a server for five users or less, preventing you from having to purchase Microsoft SQL Server for smaller installations.
Easy Terminal Services/Citrix Installation	The installation program automatically configures BID2WIN for all Terminal Services users, placing an icon on their desktop, without any further steps necessary to make the application available to each user.
Recently Opened Estimate List	BID2WIN displays the last eight estimates you’ve opened on the Home Page, as well as the File menu. This allows you quick access to the recent estimates you’ve opened in a way that’s familiar to all Microsoft Office users.
Open Multiple Estimates	Open more than one BID2WIN window at the same time, allowing you to view Resources and an estimate, multiple estimates, or even multiple views of the same estimate!
Roaming User Settings	User interface settings—such as dialog size and location, decimal place settings, etc.—are stored with each user account on the BID2WIN server. This allows these settings to "roam" with the user, regardless of which computer they use to log on.
Extensive Online Reference Information	BID2WIN includes complete reference information in its online help system. Click the Help button or press F1 anywhere in the application to see detailed reference information.
Client/Server Architecture	BID2WIN was designed from the ground up to take advantage of the very latest development tools from Microsoft—.NET and SQL Server. This gives you the very best in performance, functionality and scalability.
Microsoft Design Standards	The user interface adheres to the guidelines for user interface design contained in the Microsoft Windows design guide. This means BID2WIN has the same look and feel as the Microsoft Office applications you’re used to.
Open Estimate Dialog	The Open Estimate Dialog lists all estimates in your BID2WIN database. Filter by Estimator, Estimate Status, Primary Customer and Estimate Type.

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Resources & Item Template Setup

Feature	Description	Basic	Professional	Enterprise
Item Databases	Unlimited private and public Item Databases support building cost structures right in each item, termed an "item template." When you pull the item into an estimate, the entire cost structure is pulled in with it.
Centralized Resource Database	A centralized resource database—including labor, equipment, crews, materials, etc.—allows all estimators to work with the same standard cost information, as well as standard cost structures created by your estimating managers.
Rate Classes	Labor and equipment rate classes allow you to store unlimited rate tables for your labor types and equipment types.
Associated Equipment Operators	Equipment can have an operator linked to it so the operator is pulled into the estimate automatically whenever the equipment is used.
Address Book	Customer, subcontractor, vendor and engineer/architect lists allow you to manage addresses for the companies you deal with.
E-mail and Web Hyperlinks	Wherever Web page addresses or e-mail addresses appear in BID2WIN, hold down the CTRL key and click to navigate to the Web site or create a new e-mail message for the contact.
State DOT Databases	BID2WIN provides over 90 pre-packaged lists of DOT items that seamlessly integrate with the program, at no additional charge.

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Costing

Feature	Description	Basic	Professional	Enterprise
Cost Groups	Cost group functionality allows users to group like items and tasks, and then utilize a similar cost structure for all of them. This functionality adds even more flexibility and works with the way estimators really think about job costing; in the end saving time and money.
View Item History	View historical information about how an item has been bid in the past. You may view histories for pay items, as well as for indirect items.
Work Rules	The new Work Rules feature allows you to configure, name and store multiple combinations of production hours, equipment hours and labor hours per day. Labor hours per day is broken down into regular, overtime and double time. These work rules may be assigned to the crew template, and overridden for individual labor and equipment in the crew template.
Suppressed Items and Tasks	Suppress items or tasks within your estimates to "turn off" their cost, to view "what if" costing scenarios.
Calculated Cost Method	A "Calculated" cost method allows you to calculate the cost of an indirect item based upon direct cost categories. You can then classify the result as a specific category, such as Equipment Owned, Labor Base, etc.
Comparison Cost Method	The "comparison" cost method gives you the ability to compare self performed unit costs with subcontractor quotes. This is useful when you have the option to self perform certain work, but also want to compare your unit costs with prices submitted to you by various subcontractors.
Integrated Vendor and Subcontractor RFQ Management	Perform powerful analysis on subcontractor and vendor quotes with BID2WIN’s integrated RFQ Management system. Automatically fax or e-mail RFQs to subcontractors and vendors, then perform powerful analysis on submitted quotes. Select the lowest bidder—or split RFQ groups among multiple bidders—to get to the lowest possible package price.
Virtually Unlimited Cost Structure	BID2WIN’s renowned tree view allows you to create estimates with virtually unlimited levels of detail, with items, tasks, sub-tasks, sub-sub-tasks, etc.
Task Template and Crew Template Preview	The Add Components dialog allows you to preview the structure of a crew template or task template before it is added to an estimate.
Fuel Costs Stored With Equipment Rate Classes	Fuel costs are stored on a per-rate class basis, allowing you to configure the fuel costs specific to each individual equipment rate class.
Full Drag & Drop Support Within Estimates	Drag and drop items and cost components within the tree view to move, reorder and copy.
Full Drag & Drop Support Between Estimates	Drag and drop items and cost components between estimates.
Assign Notes to Any Part of Estimate Cost Structure	BID2WIN allows you to enter unlimited notes on any part of your estimate—item, task, crew, material, etc. Each note is tagged with the initials of who entered it, along with the time and date.
Estimator Field	This field accepts a manually-typed estimator name, or you may select an estimator from a drop-down list of BID2WIN users. This field is used for filtering purposes in the Open Estimate Dialog.
Unlimited Minority Requirements	Enter an unlimited number of minority participation requirements. BID2WIN tracks all subcontractor participation to allow you to track actual minority costs against goals.
Duplicate Estimate	Make a duplicate copy of an estimate while you’re viewing it. Right-click the estimate in the Open Estimate dialog, or simply click the File menu, then click Duplicate… to make an exact copy.
Support for Indirect or Incidental Costs	Establish an indirect cost total for the estimate, using either individual indirect items or percentages. Distribute the indirect cost into pay items in a manner specified by you.
Over 130 Item Listing Columns	More than 130 columns are available in the item listing spreadsheet view. This view is completely customizable by you, allowing you to show, hide, resize and reorder the columns.
Grouping of Items	Group items by work type, alternate, or phase on both the spreadsheet view and detail view of the estimate. Each group shows rolled-up totals for the items it contains.
Full Metric/Imperial Support	Enter values in either metric or imperial anywhere in the program, and BID2WIN automatically converts them when you switch systems using built-in conversion factors. Reports are automatically printed in the currently selected system.
Extensive Filtering	Filter items within estimates by alternate, cost method, flagged, lock type, phase, suppressed, with notes, work type, zero quantity, zero unit cost and zero unit bid price.
Tie Trucking to Crew Production	Link trucking days and hours per day to a crew to drive trucking costs from crew production rates.
Global Rate Edits	Globally edit equipment, labor, crews, and materials at estimate, item group, item and task level.
Estimate Check Wizard	The integrated Estimate Check Wizard automatically scans your estimate for dozens of common estimating errors. If any problems are found, the system steps you through each problem so you can review and resolve it.
Excel Integration	Load Microsoft Excel workbooks directly into BID2WIN and link values from the Excel workbooks into your estimate. This allows the use of customized calculations specific to your company.
Custom Calculation Factors	Create user-defined calculation factors for material quantities. For example, convert square yards to tons using custom conversion factors.
Crew Templates	Combine labor and equipment to create reusable templates for use when building estimates. Select from many different production methods, including units per hour, hours per unit, etc.
Copy Items or Portions of Items Between Estimates	Open two estimates side-by-side, and drag and drop items and cost components between them. BID2WIN allows you to automatically update the cost information to current rates when copying items and cost components.
Flexible Overtime	Flexible overtime and double time configuration options allow BID2WIN to calculate labor costs for you the way that you need.
Bid Level Taxes	Enter multiple bid-level taxes to handle county tax, state tax, GST tax, etc.
Bid and Takeoff Quantity	Enter both bid quantities and takeoff quantities and track over/under amounts using the Bid Versus Takeoff summary.
Auto Price Rounding	BID2WIN includes an option to automatically round pay item prices using a scheme you configure.
Owned and Rented Equipment	Equipment may be classified as owned or rented. Cost summaries reflect separate totals for each.
Instant Recalculation	Enter bid prices and cost information and instantly see updated cost and price information on-screen.
Flexible Cost Methods	BID2WIN supports multiple cost methods for items and tasks, to allow you to use the right level of detail. Plug allows you to plug a unit or total cost. Subcontracted allows plugging a unit or total cost, or soliciting quotes from subcontractors. Quick allows entry of unit or total costs for individual cost categories. Detail allows addition of cost components, including crews, materials, labor, equipment, trucking, or even other tasks, to break down the cost detail.
Track Costing-Related Comments	BID2WIN allows you to enter comments for each item, crew, material, labor, equipment, etc. during the costing process. The comments dialog includes a full history, including the estimator’s initials, date and time each comment was entered.

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Bid Closing

Feature	Description	Basic	Professional	Enterprise
Apply Markup by Phase, Alternate, or Work Type	Enter percentages to calculate indirect cost, overhead, or profit based on direct cost on a per-phase, per-alternate, or per-work type basis. This allows you to use a different set of percentages for the direct cost in pay items classified with a specific phase, alternate, or work type.
Apply Markup by Subcontractor	Enter percentages to calculate indirect cost, overhead, or profit on a per-subcontractor basis. This allows you to use a different set of percentages for the direct cost in all pay items, indirect items and tasks for each selected subcontractor.
Distribute Indirect Items Individually	Define an overall distribution strategy for indirect cost, but then override the default distribution settings on a per-indirect item basis. This allows you to customize the distribution of specific indirect items.
Fax and E-mail Proposals	Automatically fax or e-mail proposals to customers.
Bond Tables	BID2WIN supports creation and management of multiple bond tables, including a default bond table for new estimates.
Flexible Price Locking	Lock the item price to ensure accidental changes are not made. Use the Markup Percent Lock or Margin Percent Lock to "lock in" a specific percentage, and have BID2WIN automatically calculate the bid price for you.
Calculate Item Price as Percent of Total Bid Price	A special type of price lock allows you to have BID2WIN calculate the price of a pay item as a percentage of the total bid price. This is helpful for allowance items that may not exceed a certain percentage of the price.
Bid vs. Takeoff Analysis	Analyze the cost, price and markup difference between bid quantity and takeoff quantity both on-screen and in reports.
Real-Time Bid Modeling	The Bid Pricing Strategy tab allows you to model the bid. A real-time pricing summary is displayed, allowing you to make modifications to markup percentages, bond table configuration and bid-level taxes, and instantly see the impact of the change.
Adds/Cuts	Add cuts. View and modify adds & cuts, allowing you to instantly see the effect on the target values.
Link Estimate-Level Bid Closing Values to Excel Workbook	Link Total Indirect Cost, Total Overhead, or Total Profit to an Excel workbook cell. This allows you to create customized or proprietary calculation schemes for these bid-level values.
Default Closing Items Selection	Select a default item or group of items to distribute a "leftover" bid price value, resulting from rounding and price balancing.
Over 130 Item Pricing Columns	More than 130 columns are available in the item pricing spreadsheet view. This view is completely customizable by you, allowing you to show, hide, resize and reorder the columns.
High-Precision Unit Bid Prices	BID2WIN supports adjustable precision for unit bid prices, out to six decimal places.
Track Bid Closing Comments	BID2WIN allows you to enter comments for each item during the bid closing process. The comments dialog includes a full history, including the estimator’s initials, date and time each comment was entered.
Custom Bid Form Layout	Customizable bid form generation allows you to generate detailed unit price or lump sum bids with grouping and subtotaling options.

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Reports

Feature	Description	Basic	Professional	Enterprise
Print Reports for Portion of Estimate	Reports can be printed for the entire estimate, an item group, specific item, or a single task.
Print Reports in Metric or Imperial	All reports except bid forms are printed in the current system of measure selected in the application. This allows you to analyze cost information in either metric or imperial.
Send Report to Printer Without Previewing	The Print dialog supports sending a report directly to the printer without previewing it first.
Table of Contents in Reports	Many reports support the display of a table of contents, allowing you to quickly navigate to different parts of a report. For example, the Cost Detail report allows you to quickly navigate to a specific item.
Support For Custom Company Logo Header	Import a graphic for use as the header for reports from any of the following formats: BMP, EMF, GIF, JPG, PNG, TIF, or WMF. This allows you to create a custom graphic, including your company logo, and information for printing on all reports.
Support For Multiple Companies	BID2WIN fully supports use of multiple company names and logos. If your organization prints reports and submits proposals under multiple company names, simply select the appropriate company for each estimate and all reports will print using the selected company information.
Web Download of New Reports	BID2WIN creates new standard reports based on customer demand. Download new standard reports directly from the BID2WIN support site and add them to your system.

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Integration

Feature	Description	Basic	Professional	Enterprise
Excel Import/Export	Import and export pay items from and to Microsoft Excel.
DOT Integration	BID2WIN provides integration with state DOT electronic bidding system (EBS) files. Download a job from your state’s Web site, (where supported) and import the bid into BID2WIN automatically. Once you’ve priced the job, export it for submission to your state.`1`
Export to Project Management and Accounting	BID2WIN supports exporting detailed cost estimate information to project management and accounting systems such as Microsoft Project, Primavera, Viewpoint, Cheetah, Timberline, Dexter & Chaney and many more.
Instant Online Help For Each Import/Export Format	Each import/export add-in includes an online help file that is embedded with the add-in. This allows you to access the latest documentation in electronic format.
Base Calendar Support in MPX Export	The MPX export format, used for exporting an estimate to scheduling software such as Microsoft Project and Primavera, includes base calendars that represent BID2WIN work rules. These calendars are assigned to each labor component and equipment component that is exported.
Enhanced AASHTO EBS Compatibility	BID2WIN’s AASHTO EBS import add-in eliminates the need to adjust the options in the EBS software to only include a limited number of fields in the CSV file. BID2WIN scans the fields in the file and uses those that it needs. The export process includes the default columns expected by the EBS software in the export file, eliminating the need to change the default import settings in that program.
1. Where supported.

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