Important Information for Designers

Builders Exchanges are proud of their long and mutually supportive relationship with members of the design community. By working with their local Builders Exchanges, Architects and engineers all across the U.S. and Canada have been able to obtain qualified bids from experienced contractors, sub-contractors and suppliers, thereby saving time and money.

Assistance is provided free of charge to project owners and members of the design community, including:

• Coordinating bid dates with other projects out for bid
  
• Locating qualified, experienced contractors and suppliers
  
• Locating Manufacturers Representatives
  
• Protecting design integrity and reducing liability by securing information
  
• Reducing telephone inquiries seeking routine information like bid date and time, known bidders; addenda; pre-bid meeting times, etc.
  
• Reducing the cost of printing blueprints and specification books
  
• Reducing office traffic and disruption generated by contractors seeking bid information and/or blueprint copies.
• Providing information about local market conditions, legal requirements and industry practices
  

A Builders Exchange Plan Room serves as a “current plan library” containing project blueprints and specifications for contractors, sub-contractors and suppliers interested in submitting bids for current projects.

Publication within the BXNet network fulfills legal requirements to publicize publicly funded projects without the cost of placing bid advertisements in newspapers and journals.

After bids, plans will be destroyed or returned to the design professional upon request.

What can BXNet do for project owners?

BXNet helps owners get the most competitive bid price for their construction project by accessing a pool of qualified and experienced local contractors who are approved members of a local Builders Exchange or related construction association. BXNet also helps owners locate contractors who meet special requirements such as Woman Owned Business Enterprises (WBE), Minority-Owned Business Enterprises (MBE) and Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBE).

BXNet assistance to owners and purchasers seeking open, competitive bids is provided free of charge. Owners who wish to restrict access to bidding information to invited or pre-qualified contractors and/or manage the bid process privately may do so through the use of BXNet’s Private Projects service. This service is available for either a one-time charge, or a monthly fee that provides unlimited use for multiple projects.


How Do Owners Use the Bid Solicitation Service? Each project owner or responsible agent provides one complete set of bid documents (Plans & Specs) for file at the office(s) of the BXNet Members chosen for that project.

Once plans and specifications are obtained, project information is made available to qualified BXNet members. A professional reporting team from the Builders Exchange maintains contact with project coordinators during the bidding process to ensure that the information remains timely and accurate. In addition, BXNet tracks viewer activity for owners who are concerned about security and liability. This statistical information is available to owners and/or architects upon request at no charge.