Bidding Options

The Bidding Options settings allow you to alter delivery methods, determine how project contacts are added, and if the bid tabulation feature is turned on, you can also manage bid viewing settings.

To modify bidding options

  1. Go to bidding settings.

    2. For more information, see Access Bidding Settings.

  2. Click Options. The following bidding options are displayed.
    • Enable Bid Tabulation: Click this button to enable bid tabulation for the account. This is a one-time action and cannot be reversed.

      This button is displayed only if bid tabulation has not been enabled yet for the account. If bid tabulation has not been enabled, then the Bid Scope and Bid Tabulation tabs are not displayed inside any bid packages.

    • Project Contacts: Select from the following options.
      • Automatically add all invited bidder contacts and companies to project contacts: Select this option to automatically add invited bidders and companies to project contacts. This is useful so that you will automatically see those contacts in your project contact directory.
      • Automatically add only awarded bidder contacts and companies to project contacts: Select this option if you only want to add awarded bidders and companies to the project's contact.
      • Do not automatically add bidder companies and contacts to project contacts: Select this option if you do not want any contacts to be automatically added to the project's contacts.
    • Require Password to Open Bid Tabulation: This check box is displayed only if Bid Tabulation has been enabled. Select this option to specify that a password must be provided to open bid tabulation.
    • Required # of Users That Must Witness Sealed Bid Openings: This field is displayed only if bid tabulation has been enabled. Click the drop-down arrow to select the number of witnesses required before a sealed bid can be opened. This feature is designed to enforce organizational policies and protect against collusion.
    • Allow Bid Tabulation To Be Opened Prior To Bid Due Date: This check box is displayed only if bid tabulation has been enabled. Select this check box to enable the bid tabulation feature prior to the bid due date. This feature allows bid managers and contractors to get a head start on viewing the bids that have come in. This option would not be set if you have a strong policy in place and/ or you initiate public bidding.
    • Lock Bid Tabulation Excel Export File: This check box is displayed only if bid tabulation has been enabled. Select this check box to prevent edits or unwanted changes to the excel worksheet.
    • Enable Electronic Bid Submission: This setting is enabled by default and makes it possible for bidders to submit bids electronically. If necessary, this setting can be changed per bid package on the Bid Package Details page in the Bidding module. If this setting is enabled and a bidder enters response information through the Bidder's Portal and saves it (without necessarily submitting it), the Allow Electronic Bid Submission setting on the bid package is disabled and cannot be turned off. For more information on the Bid Package Details page, see Bidding Details.
      Clear this check box to restrict electronic submissions for the entire account. This might be necessary for public bid clients who require hard copy signatures. Typically, these clients bid on their projects through websites, newspapers, and other public means.
    • Suppress Qualifications text field: Select this check box to prevent bidders from submitting unrequested qualification information.

    The settings in this section allow you to enable/ disable, and if applicable, customize the ability to automatically initiate a commitment process from an awarded bid package. Cost data is automatically populated into the cost fields from the awarded bid.

    • Bid Award to Commitment: Click this drop-down arrow to select an option for initiating a commitment process after a bid has been awarded. Choose from the following options:
      • No Commitment (None): Select to disallow the initiation of a commitment process upon awarding a bid package. Commitment fields will auto-populate with data from the awarded bid package.
      • Commitment (Non Process Commitment): Select to enable the creation of a non-process commitment upon awarding a bid package.
      • Process: All commitment process display in this section for you to choose one that may be initiated and populated with contract data from an awarded bid package.
    • Include Bid Response Attachments: Select to automatically attach to the commitment, the files that were included in bid responses.
    • Allow this setting to be changed on individual bid packages: Select to allow this setting to be modified per bid package.
  3. Click Save.