crux

How to

Onboard a bid

The first step of every bid. crux reads the documents, asks what it cannot find, and writes the binder.

Onboarding is the first step of every bid. crux reads every document in the job's folder, reconciles the addenda (the latest governs), asks you what it cannot find, and writes the job's binder.

1. Put the documents in one folder

Make one folder for the job, normally inside your bids folder (see the setup wizard, step 8), and put everything in it: the specs, the drawings, the addenda, the bid form, and any GC scope of work. Subfolders are fine. The Bid Board can make the folder for you with Create bid folder.

2. Start it

  1. In Chat, pick the job in the Project list, or use Browse for a project folder.
  2. Click New session.
  3. Click the Onboard this bid quick action and press Send. Or say it your own way: "I'm bidding this job, onboard it."

You can also start from the Project or Binder tab with Ask crux to onboard this bid.

3. What happens next

  • Within a minute, crux gives you the quick facts it found and its first question.
  • In the background, crux indexes every document so it can search and cite them, and writes the binder: the project facts, the RFI Log, the executive summary with its bid card, the change log, and the diary. The Project tab shows the progress; you can keep working.
  • Questions show up one at a time on the Project tab under Needs you, and a number appears on the Project tab. See Questions and RFIs.
  • When it is done, crux posts a wrap-up in the job's chat: the bid date and who it goes to, the sections found and missing, the open questions, and buttons for the next steps (for example "Start the takeoff", "Draft RFIs", "Build the estimate"). See Chat settings.

If something could not be read

The Project tab's onboarding strip lists anything Not covered (a damaged or locked file, for example). Fix the file if you can, then click Retry, or Try everything not read again.

Good to know

  • The job remembers the trade pack it was onboarded with. See Packs.
  • Big drawing sets take longer. crux reads the sheets in the background; you can use the chat meanwhile.
  • When an addendum arrives later, drop it into the same folder and tell crux. See Addenda and the conformed set.