BID Advantage, Inc.

Frequently Asked Questions and Getting Started

Following is a list of Frequently Asked Questions that will give you a road map for setting up your program for the first time and for editing your program after it has been originally installed.

1. Is there a written tutorial?

2. What must I set up in the Management Program?

3. How do I set up a labor rate?

4. How do I set up a markup method and rate?

5. Can I have multiple labor rates?

6. What is the standard labor template?

7. What types of buildings or conditions should have their own Template?

8. How do I start a new Bid?

9. How do I enter roof sections?

10. Why is labor highlighted in blue?

11. How do I select terminations, wood blocking & ARP?

12. How do I select sections and underlayment ?

13. How do the Flute Filler and Get Quote buttons work?

14. How do I enter parapets?

15. How do I enter curbs?

16. How do I enter information under the Flashings & Other Accessories?

17. What do I do with Edge Terminations?

18. What do I do with Calculated Quantities?

19. What do I need to do with Fasteners & Related Items?

20. How do I enter Gutters, Downspouts, Pitch Pans, & Collection Boxes?

21. How do I enter Tear-Off information?

22. What are Disposal Capacity Adjustments for?

23. What is already calculated and how?

24. Why Three Columns?

25. Why is there a double column on the right?

26. Can I see or print a report?

27. Key Drivers

Question 1: Is there a written tutorial?

Yes and it’s a good one. Select Start and then go to “Program Files” and select “Bid Advantage”. Under Bid Advantage select “Tutorial”. You can open and print this written tutorial for more detailed answers.

The tutorial can also be viewed here.

MANAGEMENT PROGRAM

Question2: What must I set up in the Management Program?

Every screen in the Management program must either have data provided, modified or verified prior to beginning any bids. Screens that already have entries in them are for examples ONLY. DON’T EXPECT THEM TO BE RIGHT FOR YOU!!

GENERAL INFORMATION:

Contractor / Company Info, Shipping Costs, & Miscellaneous Settings

Enter your company’s information and modify the shipping costs to fit your area. IF A TABLE HAS GREEN IN IT YOU CAN CHANGE IT. Enter your choice of sealant and set up a default sales tax rate.

Estimators:

This program has a log in process so you will need to enter the names of all individuals who will be using the program along with a password for each. If no password is entered no password will be required.

LABOR SETTINGS:

Basic Labor Settings

Select which way you want to view labor in the bid program. You decide between seeing the labor in hours or days ( The program means 1 person per hour of work or 1 person per day of work ) You also tell the program how many hours of work you consider a full day of work

Labor & Markup Options

Question 3: How do I set up a labor rate?

The “Default” option is the only option shown when you open the program. Once set up it is your default rate. If you know your grossed up or full cost for labor you can enter it in the “Hourly Labor Rate”. If you are not sure the “Rate Calculator” may help you. Check with your accountant to verify your decision.

Question 4: How do I set up a markup method and rate?

Markup or Margin is the amount you need to add to your bid to cover Overhead & Profit. We give you three ways to do that.

1.) Dollar Amount per Man Day adds the dollar amount you enter for every day of work bid.

2.) Percentage x Total Cost adds the percentage of total cost you enter to the bid.

3.) Gross Profit Percentage gives the percentage you entered as margin between the final bid number and the total costs.

Question 5: Can I have multiple labor rates?

If you want different rates for different areas or conditions you can create additional labor and markup rates and give them a name that makes sense to you. Use the same method that you used on the Default Labor rate to set up your new rate and markup.

Labor Templates

Question 6: What is the standard labor template?

The standard labor template when selected shows 100% for each area of the bid. This is the default labor template. If you use it you will be bidding the base line labor. YOU NEED TO CREATE YOUR OWN LABOR TEMPLATES FOR THE VARIOUS TYPES OF BUILDINGS AND CONDITIONS. IT IS THE ONLY WAY TO BID ACCURATELY!

Question 7: What types of buildings or conditions should have their own Template?

You decide but here are two examples. Restaurants are typically higher labor for the area being roofed and Industrial facilities are usually lower labor for the area being roofed. Read the tutorial or call Bid Advantage support for help in developing your labor templates.

PRICING

Underlayment & Fasteners

On Underlayment enter your square foot price for each item shown. Duro-Last underlayment is already priced in the program. For fasteners update pricing with Duro-Last on these Non Duro-Last fasteners. BE SURE TO Check the unit quantity to confirm the unit price.

EXCEPTIONAL Metals

Gutters, Down Spouts, and Collection Boxes.

There are different styles and sizes for each item. Update pricing …and enter a unit cost of labor for each item. Some units are lineal feet, some single pieces, etc. Check the unit size and make sure that the labor applies to the same size unit that is priced.

Pitch Pans

There are three Pitch Pan sizes. You can update pricing …. And enter a unit cost of labor for each item. Geocel or pitch pocket filler is automatically calculated for each pitch pan selected.

NON DURO-LAST ITEMS

All Buttons: Wood Blocking, Structural Decking, Metals, Sub-Contractor & Services, Customized Applications.

Enter unit prices for materials and labor rates for item appropriate for your company. If it is in Green you can edit or add to it. You can add things to each list if you would like items added. Just start typing in a blank green line and put description and pricing.

REQUIRED PRICING FOR Wood Blocking, Sheet Metal Counter Flashing & Disposal Units

YOU MUST PROVIDE PRICES FOR all wood blocking and counter flashing under the Sheet Metal button and Disposal units under the Services button so that the program can do some of its automatic calculations. Whether you use dump trucks or dumpsters reduce the unit capacity to actual fill capacity for yardage and enter your total cost for each empty.

BID PROGRAM

HOME SCREEN

File Functions and Icons for New Bid, Opening, Saving:

Once you have logged on to the Bid Program you can start bidding, or you can click on the New and Open Icons to have multiple bids opened at the same time. You can also take an existing bid, modify it, and “Save it As” an alternate bid option for that customer.

Question 8: How do I start a new Bid?

Enter the Customer Information and choose the labor template, job specific information, and labor rate that apply to this job. After creating a bid you can change a labor template or select alternate options if needed and they will apply.

ROOF SECTIONS

Question 9: How do I enter roof sections?

Enter the five areas of information on the upper left section of the screen for each roof area needing to be entered. Once the data has been entered you must click on the “Save Section” button to save your entry.

Question 10: Why is labor highlighted in blue?

Anywhere you see labor in blue you can modify it. Double click on the labor number and a pop up box will appear. Enter or modify the number to your needs and then click on “Finish” and the number you entered will be saved to the bid.

Question 11: How do I select terminations, wood blocking & ARP?

If you need any of these items, click on that tab, and select the sides of the roof section you need that item on. You will receive visual confirmation of your entry in the window and the program can calculate labor for those items properly.

UNDERLAYMENT

Question 12: How do I select sections and underlayment ?

Either click on the “Select All” button or highlight the sections you want underlayment on. Once that is done select the type of underlayment needed and which option you want. Repeat your underlayment type and option for each layer needed.

Question 13: How do the Flute Filler and Get Quote buttons work?

Select Flute Filler or Get Quote and enter your choice or description. Enter your bid for labor and your quote for materials. If you don’t have your quote the first time through you can come back and fill in the missing information.

PARAPETS

Question 14: How do I enter parapets?

Select the Parapet Style, & enter the dimensions of the parapet cross section. Enter the length of the wall or the length of the parapet piece. You can enter a long wall, the number of pieces you will order for that wall & the program will calculate the added material and labor. Choose plastic, Terminations, & other options as needed.

CURBS

Question 15: How do I enter curbs?

Select the curb style. Enter the quantity needed of each size curb and then enter the curb dimensions. Select the termination option for that curb & insulation or plastic, if needed. Verify the deck type and click on the “Save Curb” button. Repeat the process for each curb style and size.

ACCESSORIES

Question 16: How do I enter information under the Flashings & Other Accessories?

Click on each item under this heading and make manual entries for each item you need.

Question 17: What do I do with Edge Terminations?

Click on each Edge Termination screen and verify the quantities from Roof Sections, Parapets and Curbs. Enter any additional quantities you need, along with covers or corners. Be sure to enter fasteners for each termination option. A minimum quantity requirement is shown in red.

Question 18: What do I do with Calculated Quantities?

Verify the quantities calculated by the program and manually enter any additional items or quantities you want included. You can manually override a calculated quantity.

Question 19: What do I need to do with Fasteners & Related Items?

If you have parapet wall tabs check here for needed fasteners & plates. Then click on the Roof & Insulation section and select the Deck Type of this roof. Under that deck type will be quantities of fasteners and plates that are needed. Select the kind of fastener and lengths you need and enter at least the minimum quantities for each.

EXCEPTIONAL Metals

Question 20: How do I enter Gutters, Downspouts, Pitch Pans, & Collection Boxes?

Select the Items, style and size needed for this bid. Enter the quantities of each item needed and either enter, verify or modify the unit labor rates and costs. When you have verified all items click on the “Finish” button.

TEAR OFF

Question 21: How do I enter Tear Off information?

Select the roof area or areas that need to be torn off. Select from the three roof type buttons the top layer of roofing and the option that most closely resembles the existing condition. Then enter the actual thickness of your core cut on the roof. Check the White Box for reasons to increase or decrease your labor.

Question 22: What are Disposal Capacity Adjustments for?

If the materials you tear off will create an overweight unit this gives you the option to select how full you think you can fill each unit based on weight. This adjustment will modify the number of disposal units you need.

NON DURO-LAST ITEMS

Question 23: What is already calculated and how?

Wood Blocking, Metal Counter Flashing Disposal Units, along with a few other things may have calculated quantities displayed. If you need to manually enter any other information under any of the headings just click on the Icon button you need and manually enter needed items, quantities and prices.

REVIEW SCREEN

Question 24: Why Three Columns?

The Left Column contains all material costs, along with shipping and taxes.

The Center Column contains all of the labor costs, along with subcontractor and services. If you need to see the labor in hours or man days click on the dot below this column to see this information.

The Right Two Columns contain summaries from the other columns, along with showing additional information including discounts, markup, per diem, sales commission and some unit costs based on the Bid Price.

Question 25: Why is there a double column on the right?

The right columns are there to help you review and make a decision about your bid price. In the far right column the markup percentage numbers are in blue. If you double click on them it allows you to modify the markup number but the change will only be shown in the right column. This allows you to compare the bid price with alternate markup amounts.

REPORTS

Question 26: Can I see or print a report?

On the “Home” or “Current Bid” screen you can select the “Report” button to see and print reports on the Bid you have opened. The Detailed Estimate Summary is a thorough summary of materials and labor along with a snap shot of review screen detail.

Drivers

Question 27: Key Drivers?

If you are having trouble with your key. Please download and install these drivers.