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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Functional Questions

1. 1. What do I need to be able to use Jobs2Bid?

   Just a computer and access to the Internet. There is no software to download, and no additional phone lines are required to use Jobs2Bid. Once your jobs are posted, the entire bid management process will automatically become fully automated and under your complete control.

2. 2. Can multiple users work independently on Jobs2Bid?

   Yes. Jobs2Bid provides user I.D.'s and passwords for all authorized personnel. This way, multiple users can work on the system at the same time, either independently, or together with their colleagues.

3. 3. How do I know if my invitations to bid have been received?

   General contractors receive a real time report detailing the results of invitation to bid transmissions. Failed transmissions can be corrected and immediately resent.

4. 4. How do my invited subcontractors register with Jobs2Bid? What does it cost them to register?

   All invited subcontractors are registered automatically on the system free of charge when they login to Jobs2bid using the I.D. and password that is automatically included in your invitation to bid. The first time they log in, they will also be prompted to update and verify all of the data in their company profile.

5. 5. How can I be sure that all of my invited subcontractors have viewed the entire project plan set?

   All invited subcontractors have access to a "read only" viewer that enables them to view the entire project plan set free of charge. They can also download, print, or order hard copies for immediate delivery. General contractors receive a real time Activity Summary report that shows which subcontractors have visited the site, viewed, downloaded, or ordered hard copies of the plan set, as well as each subcontractor’s bidding decision. Our Document Audit Report lists every single file that each subcontractor has downloaded, printed, or ordered in hard copy.

6. 6. How can I be sure that my invited subcontractors will always have the latest updates and addenda for my projects?

   Bidding subcontractors will receive alerts notifying them when updates or addenda are available. Updates and addenda can be transmitted using the Invitation to Bid system, and/or posted in the general contractor's Virtual Private Plan Room along with the original project plan sets.

7. 7. Can general contractors pay for project plan sets for their subcontractors?

   Yes. General Contractors have the option to pay for full electronic access for downloading and printing of project plan sets for select subcontractors, or to order full or partial hard copies for immediate delivery to them.

8. 8. Can general contractors pay for project plan sets while charging shipping costs to subcontractors?

   Yes. When ordering hard copies for delivery to subcontractors, general contractors can either pay for shipping themselves, or charge it to a subcontractor's shipping account number.

9. 9. Can I monitor how much I am spending on project plan sets?

   Yes. General contractors that purchase plan sets for selected subcontractors receive a real time report detailing all individual plan set orders as well as the total amount spent to date.

10. 10. Can Jobs2Bid be customized to meet my individual needs?

    Yes. In most cases Jobs2bid can be modified to meet the particular needs of individual users. You can call us any time to discuss your specific needs.

Technical Questions

1. 1. In what form or format can I send you my master list of subcontractors?

   The desired formats are either a "comma delimited" file or in an Excel spreadsheet.

2. 2. How long does it take to import a master list?

   Approximately 3 days, depending on the data format used.

3. 3. Which format is the fastest; which is the slowest?

   Either format is fine. It is the completeness of the data that determines the time it takes to import a Master List. (i.e., missing phone and fax numbers, or email addresses in the wrong columns, etc. require editing.)

4. 4. How do I send you digital plan sets?

   You can either send us a CD, or upload your files to our F.T.P. site. Jobs2bid will soon include an “uploader” that will allow general contractors to input plan sets right on the system. In either case, Jobs2bid staff will then immediately post your project on the site.

5. 5. How long will it take to post my jobs?

   Once files are received, most projects will be posted the same day; next day at the latest.

6. 6. In what form or format can I attach documents to my invitations to bid?

   You can use Microsoft Word or plain text. We also support images in the Word documents, such as logos. Invitations can be completely customized, and will always contain instructions to your subcontractors for using Jobs2bid.

7. 7. In what file formats are the plan sets stored on Jobs2bid?

   Drawings are stored in industry standard TIFF format and specifications are stored in PDF format.

8. 8. How do I know that your site is secure?

   Jobs2bid is secured using Verisign's SSL Secure Certificates. When you login you will see the url in the address field starting with HTTPS://. This indicates that the information is encrypted from the browser to the Jobs2bid site. Most current releases of browsers now have cipher strength set at 256 bits.

9. 9. What other software applications is Jobs2bid compatible with?

   Jobs2bid is accessible via Internet Explorer. When you download plan sets from Jobs2bid, drawings are in TIFF format and specifications are in PDF format. These formats are compatible with most other systems for printing, estimating, and takeoff.

10. 10. What about technical support for Jobs2Bid?

    Technical support for Jobs2bid users is available 24x7 by calling our toll-free number, (888) 522-2329.