Beacon Falls, CT In the first arrangement of its kind, reprographics pioneer Plans4Less.com (www.plans4Less.com) and SmartBidNet (www.SmartBidNet.com), a world leader in “invitation to bid” software for general contractors and subcontractors, have integrated solutions to improve the preconstruction process for their clients.

Plans4Less.com owner Brian Burke emphasizes how software and technology are dramatically transforming the construction industry. “Today, speed and collaboration are critical. This first-of-its-kind partnership provides reprographic services to contractors who access project documents in SmartBidNet. Plans4Less.com is integrated into their software so users can order and obtain print plans in a timely, more cost-efficient manner,” he said.

With SmartBidNet, a project, bid or preconstruction manager sends, receives and monitors invitations to bid and files, displays project details for subs, publishes public projects, manages due dates and deadlines, tracks bid invitations, and sends emails to all parties. 

Since 2006, SmartBidNet, a product of JBKnowledge, has worked with a growing number of local, national and global general contractors to simplify their bid process. Each one now has the option of selecting Plans4Less.com as the source for their subcontractors to purchase plans.

In the last few years, Plans4Less.com introduced fixed pricing, offering standard black and white full-size sheets for $1. Traditionally, pricing for plans has been calculated based on total square feet based on the quantity, size, and number of sets ordered. This can be confusing, frustrating and expensive. With Plans4Less.com, an architect needing 10 sets of a 20-page set of plans (at $1 per page vs. competitors’ $4 or more per page) can save many hundreds of dollars on one order.

Combining the SmartBidNet software package with the Plans4Less reprographics capabilities puts contractors and subs on the same page. Using Plans4Less.com, project managers can turn digital documents into large format prints, delivered within 24 hours – sometimes even on the same day thanks to Burke’s national network of reprographics partners in large cities. “Our clients are often under tremendous deadline pressure,” he said. “We’re as close as your smart phone, computer or tablet. When you get a new issue, an update, bulletin or revisions, simply forward them to us for the fastest turnaround in the industry. Files can be easily uploaded to  www.Plans4Less.com.   I like to think of us as the FTD for the reprographics business.”