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Appia Construction Management System Now Provides Complete Bidding Solution Through Full Integration with Bid Express Online Bidding Exchange

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – November 15, 2007: In a positive move to further extend the powerful construction management capabilities of the Appia system, Info Tech, Inc. announced that the Appia system now offers full integration with the Bid Express service, a leading secure Internet bidding service. Agencies that choose to manage their capital infrastructure projects with the Appia system can now be assured of total security and accuracy in their bid lettings.

“Bid Express integration reinforces the already expansive construction management tools in Appia,” said Joe Phelan, vice president of sales and marketing for Info Tech. “Bids are not prone to common errors associated with manual entry, and bid submission is secure and easy for both the agency and the bidder.”

The Appia system is a web application for managing all aspects of a capital infrastructure project, including estimation, bidding and construction management. The Appia system’s bid management functions were already robust. It consolidates the bidding process into one accessible location, allowing for easy execution and administration of bid advertisement, bid receipt processing, analysis and award. Bidding contractors receive electronic bid files from the agency and enter their bid data using a free, stand-alone bidding program, reducing the time and expenses associated with data entry, bid revisions, error checking and completion. Bids previously could be submitted directly to the agency on CD or disk. Now, with the integration with Bid Express, the sealed bids can be securely uploaded to Bid Express via the Internet where they are held in a secure lockbox until the bid opening.

Agencies use the Appia software to process bid files and now can also retrieve bids from the Bid Express service. Upon receiving the bidders’ files, the Appia software performs detailed bid analysis using textual and graphical tools to analyze each contractor’s item price deviations from, and percentages above or below, the agency’s estimate. Agencies can also use this bid data to ensure their compliance with DBE program goals, as well as any federal, state or local regulations.

“Given the seriousness of project oversight and funding qualifications, agencies need systems that will allow them to thoroughly and efficiently meet their reporting and oversight goals,” Phelan said. “It is worth noting that Appia and Bid Express exceed the stringent oversight and reporting requirements established by FHWA.”

About the Appia system: The Appia system is built for specifically for capital infrastructure project management and is a result of the decades of experience Info Tech has in building construction management applications. Information from a construction project flows seamlessly through Appia as projects move through the contract life cycle. With just a web browser, it’s easy to see and update the status of all projects. The “active projects” web screen shows where all projects are within the project lifecycle so anyone in an organization can view project information without user training or installs.

The Appia system offers many benefits to users, including significant cost and time savings due to reduced hands-on time and elimination of re-keying data, more accurate record keeping, paperless data collection, production of instantaneous status reports and pay requests and more access to information on and off the construction site.

About the Bid Express service: By using the Bid Express web bidding service, bidders save time needed for preparing and submitting bids and bid bonds on paper, and travel time and expense in attending bid meetings. 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 all agencies using the Bid Express service. Agencies benefit by not needing additional staff for bid management and by generating and tracking less paper. They also get electronic bids that are more accurate and ready to load.

Contractors pay a minimal monthly subscription fee for the basic service, and can elect additional add-on, bidding-related services, including access to electronic plan sheets, the small business network for reaching subcontractors, and a bid tabs analysis service. The Bid Express service is offered by BidX.com, an Info Tech company. For more information, visit www.bidx.com.

About Info Tech: Established in 1977 and based in Gainesville, Fla., Info Tech, Inc. provides software development and systems integration services for infrastructure construction management, and also provides highly technical consulting and network communications services. Info Tech’s software products, services and professionals serve public agencies, consulting engineers, contractors and bidders. Info Tech has a highly skilled workforce of more than 200 professionals, and maintains regional and project offices throughout the U.S. For more information, visit www.infotechfl.com. Info Tech can be reached at +1 (352) 381-4400.

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Pete Janelle
Info Tech, Inc.
(352) 381-4400
media contact info

Given the seriousness of project oversight and funding qualifications, agencies need systems that will allow them to thoroughly and efficiently meet their reporting and oversight goals. It is worth noting that Appia and Bid Express exceed the stringent oversight and reporting requirements established by FHWA.

Joe Phelan,
Vice President of Sales and Marketing,
Info Tech, Inc.