"We have had people come in and tell us what a Cadillac plan room we have. I think by and large our members are happy and they think they are getting a quality personalized service." - Jan Piper, plan-room manager

 

Jumping On

By Chris Thompson
Daily Reporter Staff

		Address: 4814 E. Broadway, Madison, WI 53716 Phone: 608-221-3148 Fax: 608-221-0536 E-mail Hours: Monday through Thursday 7:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Friday 7:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Region covered: Statewide Plans available: From 75 to 150, depending on the season Services: Weekly Bid+ Alert Bulletin (either mailed or e-mailed), copy service, night faxes to alert members of next-day bid opportunities and addenda Membership: Full service for $595 annually includes a weekly bulletin, copy service with monthly account, unlimited use of the plan room and ability to reserve plans. Subscription only for $225 annually includes the weekly bulletin and a "cash-and-carry" copy service. Full-service or subscription-only members can sign up for the NightAlert Fax Service for $80 annually

The Bid+ Builders Exchange has rolled with changes in the industry throughout the plan room's 15-year history, and officials said they plan to carry on the tradition by offering their hard-copy plans on the Internet.

"Our biggest issue right now is Web-site access and offering electronic accessibility to our plans, whether it's through CDs or architects," Jan Piper, plan room manager, said.

Piper said that while she plans to open a Web site within the next year, she still is testing the idea with her members. She said members are especially interested in seeing the plan room's Bid+ Alert, the weekly bid update, on the Internet.

"Of the members who have replied to our surveys, we have received an overwhelming 'Yes,' " Piper said. "We also want to get our plan addenda on the Web site in their entirety so all members have to do is print them out."

Eventually, Piper said, she would like to get bid listings and bid results online.

"Then we'll go to an electronic plan room in addition to our hard-copy plans," she said. "As long as we maintain our hard-copy plans, the guys without electronic access will be OK."

With a plan room that covers the entire state, Piper said her members have access to a wide variety of bid opportunities, especially in the busy spring season. But many members prefer to sign on for projects in the Madison area.

"Anything around Madison is of more interest to our guys because it's local, and they don't have to spend the money to travel to other areas of the state," Piper said.

But the advent of the design/build bid process, especially in the private sector, has made some project barriers difficult to crack. Piper said Madison's private sector construction has become a hotbed for design/build.

"It's not real popular, and the fear is that projects are moving more toward design/build," she said. "I think the guys feel design/build will wrap up projects in this area more than ever before." Piper said she thinks her members would actually welcome state Legislature approval for design/build in the public sector because it could open more doors of opportunity for smaller contractors.

"If it went public it would be fine because it would give everybody a fair chance if we could find out about it and get the word out," she said. "Public design/build would actually make projects more available to our members."