Sub bids with BidMates

Import your takeoff

1. In the project, click “Imports”. Use “Upload file” (.xlsx, .csv or .tsv) or “Paste rows”.
2. EstiMates shows “Detected” and the tool it recognised. Check the “Columns” it mapped: description, quantity, code, division and so on.
3. Under “Unit of the quantity”, pick where the unit comes from. Rows with no clear unit are flagged; fix or exclude them in the “Preview”.
4. Tick “Remember this column map” so the next export from the same tool goes straight in, then click “Save import”.

A quantity without a unit is never guessed. It's flagged until you say what it is.

Build bid packages

1. Click “Bids”. Lines are grouped into MasterFormat divisions; use “Assign to division…” for any left over, or “Add division”.
2. Click “Create package” on a division (or “Blank package”), give it a name, currency and “Bids due” date.
3. On the “Scope” tab, adjust lines with “Add line” and “Save lines”, add “Scope notes”, and attach drawings with “Choose sheets”.

Invite subs and track coverage

1. On the “Invites” tab, click “Add subs” and paste one per line: “Company, Name, email”.
2. Click “Send N invites” and confirm. Each sub gets their own link by email.
3. Reminders go out automatically before the due date, so set one. Use the row menu to “Resend (new link)” or “Revoke invite”.
4. Watch “Coverage” (invited, viewed, bid, declined) and use the “Chase list” and “Copy emails” for the stragglers.

Compare and award

1. On the “Compare” tab, each sub is a column. Prices are converted to your units, with the sub's original shown beside them.
2. Check “Missing scope”, “Excluded lines” and “Exclusions” so a low number isn't low because something is missing. Tap a cell to add “Your notes”.
3. On “Award & export”, pick the “Winner” (or “Plug number (no sub picked)”) and click “Award package”.
4. Under “Export the award”, download “CSV”, “Excel (.xlsx)” or “Copy for paste”. If you saved a column map, choose the version in your tool's layout.