E-commerce bid and project management system and method for the construction industry

• US 7,330,821 B2
• Filed: 01/26/2001
• Issued: 02/12/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Autodesk, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Buzzsaw.com, Inc. (Autodesk, Inc.)
• Inventors: Wares, Larry Allen
• Primary Examiner(s): Jeanty; Romain
• Application Number:
  US09/771,142
• Publication Number:
  US 20010044768A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,573 Days
• Field of Search: 705/1, 705/7, 705/10, 705/37
• US Class Current: 705/7.17
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06311 Scheduling, planning or task assignment for a person or group
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/063118 Staff planning in a project environment
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/08 Auctions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/04 Trading; Exchange, e.g. stocks, commodities, derivatives or currency exchange

Abstract

An integrated electronic commerce (e-commerce) based construction industry bidding and project management system and methods, including document distribution, supply chain automation and on-line auctioning. In a pre-construction setting, the e-commerce based bidding and project management system and method provides for a user the means for participating and competing in the bidding and construction project management tasks using on-line computerized telecommunications technologies. The on-line system and methodologies help the participants to achieve cost efficiencies and performance enhancements that traditional prior art manual bidding and construction management systems and methods have not achieved. In a global system setting the present invention facilitates management of real estate, development, building and construction industries, including architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) project phases, including design, specification, research, bidding, financing, procurement, construction, and maintenance.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented project management system, said system comprising:

technology infrastructure means for receiving, storing, and exchanging information; and

function management means, coupled to said technology infrastructure means, for managing at least one of a plurality of project functions utilizing information stored in said technology infrastructure means, said plurality of project functions comprising means for collaborating on bids between owners, architects, general contractors, subcontractors, suppliers, wholesalers and building product manufacturers, where said means for collaborating comprises;

means for preparing bid documents by architects and owners;

means for evaluating and re-packaging said bid documents into bid packages by general contractors;

means for distributing said bid packages to subcontractors by said general contractors;

means for performing quantity take-offs and soliciting request for quotes from suppliers, wholesalers and building product manufacturers by said subcontractors;

means for preparing bids by said suppliers, wholesalers and building product manufacturers and for submitting said bids to said subcontractors;

means for evaluating request for quotes and compiling bids by said subcontractors for submitting to said general contractors;

means for evaluating bids received from said subcontractors and for compiling totals into a base bid by said general contractors;

means for submitting said base bid by said general contractors to said owners and architects;

means for awarding contracts to general contractors by said owners and architects; and

means for further awarding contracts to said subcontractors by said general contractors.

2. A project management system as described in claim 1 wherein said management system is facilitated by e-commerce.

3. A computer-implemented method for managing projects, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving, storing and exchanging information; and

managing a plurality of project functions utilizing said information, said plurality of project functions provided for collaborating on bids between owners, architects, general contractors, subcontractors, suppliers, wholesalers and building product manufacturers, where said collaborating comprises;

preparing bid documents by architects and owners;

evaluating and re-packaging said bid documents into bid packages by general contractors;

distributing said bid packages to subcontractors by said general contractors;

performing quantity take-offs and soliciting request for quotes from suppliers, wholesalers and building product manufacturers by said subcontractors;

preparing bids by said suppliers, wholesalers and building product manufacturers and for submitting said bids to said subcontractors;

evaluating request for quotes and compiling bids by said subcontractors for submitting to said general contractors;

evaluating bids received from said subcontractors and for compiling totals into a base bid by said general contractors; and

submitting said base bid by said general contractors to said owners and architects;

awarding contracts to general contractors by said owners and architects; and

further awarding contracts to said subcontractors by said general contractors.

4. A method as described in claim 3 wherein said method is facilitated by utilizing e-commerce.

5. A computer-implemented bidding system for the real estate, development, building and construction industries, said system comprising:

means for preparing bid documents by architects and owners;

means for evaluating and re-packaging said bid documents into bid packages by general contractors;

means for distributing said bid packages to subcontractors by said general contractors;

means for performing quantity take-offs and soliciting request for quotes from suppliers, wholesalers and building product manufacturers by said subcontractors;

means for preparing bids by said suppliers, wholesalers and building product manufacturers and for submitting said bids to said subcontractors;

means for evaluating request for quotes and compiling bids by said subcontractors for submitting to said general contractors;

means for evaluating bids received from said subcontractors and for compiling totals into a base bid by said general contractors; and

means for submitting said base bid by said general contractors to said owners and architects.

6. A bidding system as described in claim 5 wherein said system is facilitated by e-commerce.

7. A bidding system as described in claim 5 wherein said system further comprises:

means for awarding contracts to general contractors by said owners and architects; and

means for further awarding contracts to said subcontractors by said general contractors.

8. A computer-implemented method for bidding real estate and construction development projects, said method comprising the steps of:

preparing bid documents by architects and owners;

evaluating and re-packaging said bid documents into bid packages by general contractors;

distributing said bid packages to subcontractors by said general contractors;

performing quantity take-offs and soliciting request for quotes from suppliers, wholesalers and building product manufacturers by said subcontractors;

preparing bids by said suppliers, wholesalers and building product manufacturers and for submitting said bids to said subcontractors;

evaluating request for quotes and compiling bids by said subcontractors for submitting to said general contractors;

evaluating bids received from said subcontractors and for compiling totals into a base bid by said general contractors; and

submitting said base bid by said general contractors to said owners and architects.

9. A method as described in claim 8 wherein said method is facilitated by utilizing e-commerce.

10. A method as described in claim 8 wherein said method further comprises the steps of:

awarding contracts to general contractors by said owners and architects; and

further awarding contracts to said subcontractors by said general contractors.