Information posted by Swinerton (a large GC out west) to its "sub-center" (for Sub-Contractors) about iSqFt's "Private Construction Office" service

Two posts ago, I highlighted iSqFt's offerings to GC's and Sub-Contractors. After doing some quick "Google" search, I found a link to an announcement from Swinerton (a very large GC in the western part of the U.S.) to its "invited" Sub-Contractors - - this is the information that iSqFt provides its GC customers so that the GC's can provide "heads-up" information to their Sub-Contractors.

I don't know how old (or how new) this particular information is. It could be outdated at this point. But, for those of you (reprographers) who've never seen this information before, it might be of interest to you.

http://www.swinerton.com/subcenter/forms/So%20you%20have%20been%

20invited%20to%20bid.pdf

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"So you have been invited to bid.."

On a project by a general contractor who maintains a Private Construction Office at www.iSqFt.com. In addition, this general has also issued you a project pass allowing you to access the project detail information, plus the entire set of plans and specifications on-line at www.iSqFt.com for no charge.

What is a Private Construction Office?

Many general contractors and developers are now using a Private Construction Office (CO), located on the Internet at www.iSqFt.com to manage their bid and construction processes. Frequently you can find plans, specs, jobsite photographs, schedules and other relevant information inside their “virtual” office.

Inside the CO the GC can find and maintain a listing of subcontractors and suppliers who may be interested in bidding his work. From this list the GC may choose to add new companies, remove companies or issue the companies invitation to bid notices via fax or email.

What is a Project Pass?

A unique project pass is issued along with an invitation to bid to all non-iSqFt subscribers. The pass itself will allow the non-iSqFt member to log into iSqFt and to see the project or projects that he or she has been invited to bid on. NOTE: iSqFt subcontractor / supplier members do not need a project pass as they have full, unrestricted access to each job they are invited to bid on.

How do I use the Project Pass?

The pass itself is simply a number, typically an 8 digit number that holds the access to your projects. The user simply needs to go to www.iSqFt.com, then click Log- in and enter the pass number for both the password and the username.

Next click on the project listings folder and you will see a link which will display any and all projects that you currently are invited to bid on and have been issued a project pass. By clicking on the name of the project you can see all the project information including the plans and specifications. The plans are highly compressed so they will download much quicker than you would expect.

Do I need anything else to view the plans?

YES: When you first log in you will see a link to download the iSqFt plans and specifications viewer. You will need to do this prior to being able to view plans or specifications.

Does it cost me anything?

No. The general contractor or owner who sent you the project pass has already paid your fee to access this project. You must accept a user agreement but there is no cost to you.

Can I reply to the general contractor?

Yes. In fact it would be helpful to the person who sent you the invitation if you would review the project documents, then click below the project to either accept or decline the invitation. A decline would indicate that you would still like to receive invitations in the future but that they shouldn’t expect to receive a bid from you on this one.

Keep your company profile updated.

When any general contractor searches for you to invite on future projects the system automatically matches the

CSI codes that you have in your profile against the CSI codes on the new project. If the codes that are shown in your company’s profile don’t match any of the CSI codes on the project, you won’t be invited. Also be sure that you verify your contact information including your email address. It costs Messer money to send you even a one page fax, but if you have a valid email address it costs them nothing to communicate to you.

To update your profile, log in to www.iSqFt.com then click your company name in the upper left hand corner to view your profile page.

Need help or more information: Phone iSqFt 1-800-364-2059 Or Email to Info@iSqFt.com

iSqFt - Announces renewal of deal with AGC (and this post includes other information about iSqFt)

I did a previous post about iSqFt on August 5, 2010. Tonight, while doing some reprographics industry research (my hobby), I came across a press release, from November 2010 about iSqFt, and decided that I would publish part of that press release …. along with other current information iSqFt’s offerings to its clients. Most reprographers, if by now not all, know about iSqFt. But, some do not.

Here’s the Press Release I mentioned:

11/9/2010 ……. iSqFt Renews Relationship with AGC of America

In recent interviews Dave Conway, President and CEO of iSqFt, and Steve Sandherr, CEO of the Associated General Contractors (AGC ) of America, announced that the two enterprises have renewed their relationship into 2012.

“This is our third renewal in the past ten years,” says Dave Conway. “We’re pleased to be able to offer thousands of AGC members a service that helps them find more work, better manage their workflow, and improve their profits in these difficult times.”

The AGC’s Steve Sandherr offers a similar view of their relationship with iSqFt. “Our members are some pretty tough customers, and they’re always looking for the most efficient, cost‐effective way to get work. The fact that 30 AGC chapters across the country use iSqFt says a lot about its value.”

Dave Conway understands what this relationship has meant to his company over the years. “I still remember, back in 2001, when we were chosen as the AGC of America’s strategic partner. That was absolutely crucial to our success. It really put us on the map in the construction industry.”

Today, Conway remains committed to offering iSqFt’s customers the industry’s best information and resources, and sees significant potential for growth through innovative services. “For that and so many reasons, I’m very pleased to continue this important relationship.”

More on iSqFt:

Joel’s comment: Here’s how iSqFt introduces its services to GC’s and Sub-Contractors:

General Contractors

“Private Construction Office”

Quickly send Invitations to bid and automate addenda

Securely post and manage project documents online

Give FREE project-specific access to subs you invite

Find additional coverage and track bidder activity

Joel’s comment: Here’s just a couple of the additional features/benefits that iSqFt talks about, regarding this service:

How does the Private Construction Office work?

Within his Private Construction Office, a general contractor uploads all of the critical documentation related to an upcoming project. This provides a quick and secure method for distributing project plans, specs, and addenda, as well as construction schedules, meeting minutes, or any other documents that need to be shared with the project team.

The invited subcontractors and suppliers have the ability to view or download the information directly from the Private Construction Office - eliminating the need for a process to have project documents reproduced and shipped to a large number of potential bidders on any given project. The ability for these vendors to view and download these documents at no cost has helped to drive vendor adoption, overcoming one of the great fears that many general contractors have expressed.

Subcontractors & Suppliers

“Internet PlanRoom”

Search thousands of bidding projects

Promote yourself to GCs privately bidding projects

Network with in- and out- of-market GCs in your area

Save time and money picking-up documents

Joel’s comment: Here’s a bit more information about this service:

Find More Opportunities. Help Your Company Grow

iSqFt is a breakthrough for subcontractors - giving them a powerful tool for finding new work and better opportunities by positioning themselves in front of more general contractors.

Through iSqFt’s network of Internet Plan Rooms and Private Construction Offices, subcontractors have access to thousands of public and private projects. Search for public projects in the Internet Plan Room based on the CSI codes you perform and types of projects you want to bid.

Takeoff Software

“iSqFt® Takeoff”

Perform accurate takeoffs quickly and efficiently

See differences between drawings w/ plan overlays

Export to almost any estimating program

Load multiple drawings at one time for quick access

Joel’s comment: Here’s just one of a number of additional comments iSqFt makes about this software:

iSqFt® Takeoff is the next generation takeoff software program, providing a powerful application for performing digital takeoffs. With easy navigation and an intuitive layout, takeoffs are now faster, more accurate and efficient.

Joel’s further comments: iSqFt’s clients (GC’s, Sub-contractors and Material Suppliers) can either download plan and spec files or they can order “hard-copy” plans and specs. For clients who want to order “hard-copy” plans and specs, iSqFt has created a network of reprographics companies to enable that. iSqFt refers to these reprographers as “strategic partners.” I’m sure that many reprographers are aware of “Onvia-Demandstar”. Prior to the sale of “certain assets of” Plan Express, Inc. to iSqFt, Plan Express was the print-partner of Onvia-Demandstar. When users of Onvia-Demandstar wanted to access plan and spec documents for bids/rfp’s published by Onvia-Demandstar, when they clicked on the “print-order” button, the orders for printing went to Plan Express. Since Plan Express still operates a web-site, I’m assuming that those orders still go directly to Plan Express, but are then re-routed to the iSqFt strategic (print-partner) network.

Here’s a list of iSqFt’s “strategic (print) partners”:

Reprographic Partners

Paper blueprints are still a vital part of the construction industry and our localized relationships with reprographic firms provide iSqFt users with the best service available for ordering and receiving paper prints.

A&E Reprographics (Virginia Beach and Newport News, VA)

Accent Imaging (Raleigh/Durham, NC)

Alabama Graphics (Birmingham & Montgomery, AL)

American Reprographics (Maryland, Washington DC and Northern VA)

AZ Overland Blueprint (Phoenix, AZ)

Bay Area Blueprint (Pensacola, FL)

Bonneville Blueprint Supply (Boise and Idaho Falls, ID)

Burks Digital (Austin & San Antonio, TX)

Charleston Blueprint (Charleston, WV)

CityBlue Technologies (Moline, IL)

Construction Image Printing, LLC (Jackson, MS)

Drexel Technologies (Maryland Heights and Kansas City, MO and Lenexa, KS)

Eastern Engineering (Fishers, IN)

Evansville Blueprint Company (Evansville, IN)

Fairway Reprographics (Colorado Springs, CO)

Florida Reprographics (Tampa, FL)

Franz Reprographics (Brooklyn Center, MN)

Horizon Reprographics (Denver, CO)

I Supply (Charlotte, NC)

J&S Blueprint Company (Tyler, TX)

Knoxville Blue Print (Knoxville, TN)

Lawton Reprographic Centers (Dallas, TX)

MacGregor Smith Blueprinter Inc. (Orlando, FL)

Metro Reprographics (Greenville, SC)

Midcity Blue (Milwaukee, WI)

Phipps Reprographics (Cincinnati, OH)

Pro-Copy (Omaha, NE)

Pro-Graphics Blueprint Co., Inc. (Nashville, TN)

Rapids Reproductions (Cedar Rapids, Urbandale, & Cedar Falls, IA)

Repro Products (Atlanta & Smyrna, GA)

Reprografia (Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach, FL)

Reprotech Graphics (Winston-Salem, NC)

Selby's (Billings, Bozeman, Helena & Missoula, MT)

Sioux City Blueprint (Sioux City, IA)

The Blueprint Shoppe, Inc. (Chicago, IL)

Triangle Reprographics (Houston, TX)