Step 1 · Print out and complete a Survey Worksheet
1.

Log onto the Bids A Lot website site . This will take you to the Browse page .

You can print a blank Survey page simply by clicking "Print Blank Survey Form" on the program menu. This is a .pdf document and can be printed by selecting the print button when the document opens up.

2.

Complete the form and make sure to answer all of the questions on the survey form for the parking lot you are going to bid.

 
Step 2 · Calculate Your Bid.
1. When your finished entering data on the printed form enter all of the information on the online "Survey Page" form then click on "Bid>>" on the gray menu near the top of the program window.
2. You will now see all of the generated bids on the Bids page. This page is editable so all information is changeable. Make sure to press save to keep any changes.
3 You will notice on the Bids page an area called "Preview & Print Bid Form Options". By clicking on 1 of the 4 forms listed, a new browser window will open with the calculated bids and your company information. There are a few things to learn about when printing from a browser. Note: if you are using IE 6.0 or Netscape 8.0 go to File->Page Setup this will open a box that allows you to edit the headers and footers that show up by default. You can clear any information in the Header and Footer boxes. Now when you print no browser information will appear on you printed bid. After doing this you can go to File->Print and your default Windows printer will be used. You may need to click print on the printer popup.
 
Important: (See headings Survey Form Functions and Data Fields and Cleaning Estimate Fields for more information on the Charge Standard and Service Levels).


 View The Bid  
  Click on the "Bid>>" button in the gray menu near the top of the program window from the Survey page
 
Include specifics about the bid that you should know want your prospective customer to know about you bid.  
   In the 'Special Bid Instructions' box type additional information regarding your bid. This will appear on the Bids page on the left side. This is an excellent place for a brief explanation of the services included in the bid. For example, "Bid includes sweeping parking lot and blowing out main store front."  
 
Customize the Headers and Footers with your company information.  
 

  On the top of every page you will find a menu bar that has a button "Edit Company Info". After clicking it you will come to a page that will allow you to enter or edit all of your company information. This information will appear on a printed bid once the save button is pressed. Space is limited for the header and footer to maintain the proportions of the printable bid.

Close the browser window when finished.

Step 3 · View and Print the Customer's Bid Sheet
To View:
1.     
On the Bids page click in the "Preview & Print Bid Form Options", click on 1 of the 4 forms listed, this will open a new browser window with the calculated bid form.

To Print:
1.      Click on the printer icon in the browser window(IE) or File->Print at the top of most browsers.There are a few things to know about browser printing. You will notice at the top and at the bottom of a printed page there will be browser related information ie.date,url.
To remove this, in your browser under File->Page Setup, a box will open that will allow you to delete the default header and footer information.

IMPORTANT: Please read the information suggested about the various data fields and functions of the Bids-A-Lot program. The purpose of these general guidlines, functions and data fields-when used correctly- is to generate accurate bids.