After extensive testing of Bid Express by the agency and contractors, ORDOT is looking forward to moving to full production use of the system. Bid Express will provide significant time and cost savings to both the agency and contractors by automating many currently manual processes and eliminating the need for contractors to travel to the letting location to submit bids in person. 

Contractors who wish to use Bid Express can visit the Bid Express web site at www.bidx.com or call Bid Express customer support at 1-352-381-4888 for information. 

“Bid Express will provide numerous benefits to ORDOT in terms of time and cost savings,” Joe Phelan, director of sales and marketing, said. “It is also a proven convenience and money-saver for the contracting community.”

Bid Express is now in use in 28 U.S. state departments of transportation and one Canadian province. Agencies typically participate in a pilot program for a short period to introduce the service to their bidding community before officially accepting Internet bids.

Bid Express is a web bidding information service developed exclusively for the road construction industry. By using Bid Express, contractors can save time needed for preparing and submitting bids and bid bonds on paper, and travel time and expense in attending lettings. Their Internet bids are sealed, secure and digitally signed. Simple screens allow contractors to quickly scan all current lettings, and a search function is available for keyword information on current lettings and bid tab data from previous lettings. Users have access to lettings from all agencies using Bid Express ­-- not just those of their home state. Agencies benefit by not needing additional staff at lettings and by generating and tracking less paper. They also get electronic bids that are more accurate and ready to load.

Contractors pay a minimal monthly subscription fee for the basic service, and can elect additional add-on, bidding-related services, including access to electronic plan sheets, the small business network for reaching subcontractors, and a bid tab analysis service.

Bid Express is offered by BidX.com, an Info Tech company. Info Tech software is installed in 40 state departments of transportation, several hundred US cities and counties and two foreign countries, performing a wide range of functions from project estimation to contract administration to electronic bidding. Info Tech, based in Gainesville, Fla., provides customer-oriented, highly technical consulting, software development, systems integration and network communications services for transportation agencies, consulting engineers and contractors. For more information, contact Info Tech at (352) 381-4400 or visit www.bidx.com or www.infotechfl.com

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