BidMatrix allows you to import budgetary estimates created in the Sage / Timberline estimating. You can use these budgetary estimates to compare your budgets for each bid package and bid package phase against the budgets you receive from subcontractors.

To import a “native” Sage estimate file, you must first install the Skybridge application. The Skybridge application will allow BidMatrix, a Cloud application to communicate with the Sage desktop application. See Installing Skybridge Application for more information on the Skybridge application.

Prior to importing the estimate, make sure the items in the estimate are assigned to both a bid package and a bid package phase that is associated with the bid package. This is typically done by using Sage WBS codes to represent bid package and bid package phase.

To import an estimate after installing the Skybridge application, click on the Import Estimate option on the Summary Sheet toolbar, and choose the Sage / Timberline option. Then, navigate to the estimate you wish to import and select it.

When the upload is complete, the Summary Sheet will display a bid package for each bid package that was included in the Sage estimate. You can expand a bid package in the Summary Sheet to see the phases for that bid package. Each phase will also display the budget for that phase. The budget is the cumulative total of the items that were assigned to the phase in Sage.

You will want to create a Sage estimate "spreadsheet layout" that would be used each time you want to upload an estimate to BidMatrix. The Sage spreadsheet layout should include the following columns, in this order.

➤ Bid Package Code

➤ Bid Package Phase Code

➤ Description

➤ Takeoff Quantity

➤ Unit

➤ Total Amount

➤ Alternate / Base 

You will want to use the Sage spreadsheet layout to print to an .xls format. Here is an example of the output that would be produced from Sage, with the columns discussed above. 

To upload the Sage estimate to BidMatrix, choose Import Estimate on the Summary Sheet toolbar and select Sage / Timberline. 

After selecting Sage / Timberline, you can double click on the .xls file or drag the .xls file to the upload window. This will start the upload. 

When the upload is complete, the Summary Sheet will display a bid package for each bid package that was included in the Sage estimate. You can expand a bid package in the Summary Sheet to see the phases for that bid package. Each phase will also display the budget for that phase. The budget is the cumulative total of the items that were assigned to the phase in Sage. 

The Sage upload also included the item scope for each bid package phase. This is helpful as a reference, and can also help you when you are in a bid package, entering a subcontractor bids and wanting to make sure a bid includes coverage for the entire scope of the phase. To view the item scope for each bid package phase, click on the ellipsis in the far left column for a bid package phase and select Scope. 

 Important: You cannot import an estimate into a project if an estimate was previously uploaded to that project.