Ohio Department of Transportation to Implement Internet Bidding for Highway Construction Contracts Using Bid Express

Columbus, Ohio and Gainesville, Fla. – July 19, 2004: The Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) recently signed an agreement to implement electronic bidding via the Internet for highway construction contracts using Bid Express.

After extensive review of all options, the agency chose Bid Express to be the service contractors will use to submit bids. Bid Express provides significant time and cost savings to both the agency and contractors by automating many currently manual processes and eliminating the need for contractors to travel to the letting location to submit bids in person.

Contractors who bid on ODOT projects who wish to learn more about Bid Express can visit the Bid Express website at www.bidx.com or call Bid Express customer support at 1-888-352-2439 for information. The system will be in full production use in September of 2004.

"Bid Express is the right solution for us," said Mark Kelsey, Division Deputy Director for Contract Administration at the Ohio Department of Transportation. "Our contractors have been requesting that we move forward with Internet bidding and Bid Express is the best service available for our needs. The costs involved in implementing are minimal, especially when compared to the benefits and cost savings our citizens will receive."

Bid Express is a web-based bidding information service developed exclusively for the highway construction industry. By using Bid Express, contractors can save time needed for preparing and submitting bids and bid bonds on paper, and travel time and expense in attending lettings. Simple screens allow contractors to quickly scan all current lettings, and a search function is available for keyword information on current lettings and bid tab data from previous lettings. Users have access to lettings from across the country -- not just those of their home state -- and real-time bid results are available.

Bid Express works with Trns•port Expedite®, an electronic bidding application that is already in use in Ohio, plus 38 other US states. Bid Express is in production use in 13 state departments of transportation, with ten additional states in various stages of implementation and testing. States typically have an introductory period to orient their bidding community, and soon after begin accepting Internet bids.

Bid Express is offered by Info Tech, Inc. Info Tech software is installed in 39 state departments of transportation, several hundred US cities and counties and two foreign countries, performing a wide range of functions from project estimation to contract administration to electronic bidding. Info Tech, based in Gainesville, Fla., provides customer-oriented, highly technical consulting, software development, systems integration and network communications services for transportation agencies, consulting engineers and contractors. For more information, contact Info Tech at (352) 381-4400 or visit www.bidx.com.

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Valerie Riley, APR
Info Tech, Inc.
(352) 381-4400
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