On-line plan rooms

[e57]

I was wondering how many out there were using on-line plan rooms?

Either subscribed for bid leads or privately for bid communication, and what you think about them?

 

[charlie b]

I can only offer one experience, and it is from the "other side" of the process. I had one client that required the design engineers (i.e., my company) to issue the design package "for bids" via an on-line "plan room." It was easier, faster, and cheaper for us, since we did not have to make and distribute many sets of paper copies.

I cannot tell you whether the bidders liked or disliked the process. But I suspect they would not have liked it, because not all bidders would have the equipment to download and view autocad files. Also, even if the files were posted in pdf format, I suspect that the bidders would want to print paper copies and to mark them up as they are preparing their bids.

 

[GUNNING]

I belong to one plan room and find that the projects are a bit large for me. I am a very small service company but occasionally I do see a plaza shell or an office shell that is just right. They also offer the notice to owner and contractor leads on who is bidding the job and an estimate on how much the total job cost is looking. I have never gotten a job through them though.

 

[edamico11]

e57

e57

It is a little different for me, but I think the positives are the same.

We can keep guys in the office while we collaborate over each job. Brainstorming, to idea, to bid, then draw it up, shoot it out. Done,, nobody leaves the shop and everyone is on the same page..

Charlie, I here what you are saying but,, if you had a shop without AutoCad or Adobe you can download free viewers on the net, so you can see and print out, if you like, the drawings. Truth be told if you did not have either you should not be bidding.:grin:

 

[Riograndeelectric]

I used to belong to an online plan room. I did not have a plotter so I had to send the printing out to a drafting compnie that would download the plans and then print out the sheets that I wnated.
I did not like the plan room due to the fact the GC would brodacast the job out to as may subs as they could find. I sometimes found myself bidding against 13 other Electricians on small core and shell jobs or tenent improvement jobs. I spent a lot of money on the subscription as well as the printing costs.

I heard that the General contractors loved it becuse they did not have to spend money on for plans to hand out to there subs.
I like the concept of the idea though . It is just that to many General contractors are abusing it.

 

[hardworkingstiff]

I used to belong to an online plan room. I did not have a plotter so I had to send the printing out to a drafting compnie that would download the plans and then print out the sheets that I wnated.
I did not like the plan room due to the fact the GC would brodacast the job out to as may subs as they could find. I sometimes found myself bidding against 13 other Electricians on small core and shell jobs or tenent improvement jobs. I spent a lot of money on the subscription as well as the printing costs.

I heard that the General contractors loved it becuse they did not have to spend money on for plans to hand out to there subs.
I like the concept of the idea though . It is just that to many General contractors are abusing it.

Sounds like the WM approach? :grin: