Software developed to streamline and cut costs of PPP/PFI bidding

A new IT-based tool can slash money spent on PPP/PFI bids by calculating capital construction and life cycle costs, its makers claim.

Bid-Builder aims to replace bespoke Excel-based spreadsheets used to generate costs of projects. The idea is to streamline the bidding process by saving time and money.

Bid-Builder automatically calculates life cycle and maintenance costs associated with different project variations brought about by:

• Changes in the capital cost make-up

• A change in the quantity or quality of a component

• The substitution of one product for another (e.g. ceramic tile for carpet).

The tool is being marketed to QSs, architects and other consultants in the PFI arena.

The chairman of Bid-Builder is Peter Stokes, founder of both Stokes & Co, and former QS firm Poole Stokes Wood, which was bought by Davis Langdon in 1999 after running for 34 years.

Bid-Builder is pre-configured with industry standard building cost data and life-cycle cost forecasts based on PFI life-cycle forecasting experience. However, Bid-Builder can be client-configured to mirror each bidder's particular supply chain and cost data.

The system's data differs from that of the BCIS which bases its information on construction and refurbishment tender submissions. Bid-Builder by contrast is pre-loaded with 885 cost lines drawn from the experience of over 60 PFI/PPP bids. "It takes a ‘ground up' and detailed approach to whole life costing," said Bid-Builder.

Customers are given the product plus two days training, although extra support is available. Clients are billed for the products on a ‘pay as you use' basis.

The system was created in November 2005 by the Bid-Builder consortium, which consists of software firm Mass Holdings and construction consultants ReloCity and Stokes & Co.