Quickly setup estimates
Use standardized libraries and templates to streamline your workflow and start every bid with a solid foundation.
Import your takeoffs
Import takeoff data directly into HeavyBid to reduce manual entry, minimize errors, and ensure every estimate aligns with your project needs.
Leverage automatic calculations
Leverage built-in calculations to save time and enhance accuracy, helping you create dependable estimates faster.
Improve team collaboration with a multi-user system
Work with your team in real-time to develop estimates together, ensuring everyone is aligned and informed.
See what HCSS can do for you
Schedule a demo
Ask our customers why they trust HeavyBid
I can contribute a lot of our growth and profitability to HeavyBid.
- Romaine Rotschy, Tapani, Inc.
We’ve been using HCSS since 1998, and I would never use anybody else.
- Charles Blevins, United Brothers Development Group
42
of the ENR top 50 heavy civil contractors use HCSS
50,000+
estimators bid faster and smarter with HeavyBid
60%
more bids submitted by HCSS customers vs. contractors using other software
Import your takeoffs and build accurate estimates
Step 1
Share your business headaches
After submitting a demo request form, an HCSS expert will follow up with you by the end of the next business day to discuss your business needs and requirements.
Step 2
See HCSS in action
Then, we’ll walk you through a demo tailored to specific HCSS solutions that can help solve your current business problems.
Step 3
Get up and running in days
Finally, you’ll be assigned a dedicated implementation specialist who will manage your implementation from start to finish and ensure project completion.
Frequently asked questions
What is construction estimate setup and takeoff?
Estimate setup is the foundational process of defining project parameters, labor rates, and equipment requirements, while takeoff involves quantifying the materials and scopes of work needed from project plans. HeavyBid integrates these phases by allowing you to instantly transform takeoff quantities into detailed cost items, ensuring your bid is built on accurate, real-world data from the very start.
Can I import my existing takeoffs directly into HeavyBid?
Yes, HeavyBid allows you to bridge the gap between quantity takeoff and cost estimating to eliminate manual entry. HeavyBid Desktop can integrate with any takeoff solution and specialized DOT import tools, while the web-based HeavyBid provides a streamlined, flexible import process for Excel-based takeoff data.
How does HeavyBid simplify the setup of a new cost estimate?
HeavyBid eliminates the need to start from scratch by utilizing standardized libraries and templates that store your company’s proven methods and rates. You can instantly pull in data from past successful projects or use master codebooks to populate your estimate, ensuring consistency across your team while significantly reducing setup time.
How does granular cost estimating help protect my project margins?
By breaking down estimates into specific labor, equipment, material, and sub-cost categories, you gain total visibility into the true cost of every activity. This granular approach prevents “guesstimating” and allows you to identify potential risks or hidden costs before they impact your bottom line, ensuring your margins remain protected throughout the project lifecycle.
Is it easy to update material and labor rates in an existing estimate?
HeavyBid makes it simple to adjust for market fluctuations by allowing you to update rates globally or within specific activities. Whether you are dealing with a sudden fuel spike or a change in union labor rates, the system automatically recalculates the entire estimate, ensuring your pricing remains accurate and competitive right up until the bid deadline.
Can I use historical data to build new cost estimates?
Absolutely. HeavyBid acts as a centralized knowledge base that integrates directly with HeavyJob, allowing you to pull in actual production history from the field to inform your next bid. By leveraging real-world performance data and copying proven activities from past projects, you can eliminate guesswork and bid with higher confidence, knowing your estimates are backed by your company’s true historical productivity.
Does HeavyBid support multi-user collaboration for large estimates?
Yes, the system is purpose-built for teamwork, allowing multiple estimators to work within the same bid simultaneously. This real-time collaboration ensures that specialty estimators can focus on their specific scopes such as dirtwork or structures, while the chief estimator maintains oversight of the total project cost and strategy.
Can I import DOT bid items directly into my estimate?
HeavyBid is the industry leader for DOT bidding, allowing you to import bid items directly from state DOT websites and electronic bidding systems. This automation eliminates hours of data entry and ensures that your pay item numbers, descriptions, and quantities perfectly match the owner’s requirements, reducing the risk of a non-responsive bid.
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