AI-Powered Construction Bid Management Software

Build bid packages in minutes with AI. Send personalized ITBs that actually get opened. Track coverage in real-time.

Trusted alternative to BuildingConnected, SmartBid, PlanHub, ConstructConnect, and more

Why Downtobid

While other platforms make you manually sort drawings and send generic portal emails, Downtobid uses AI to build your packages and sends personalized invites that subs actually recognize.

Stop spending hours on bid prep. Start getting responses.

57k+

verified commercial subs

15

min to build bid packages

42%

higher response rate

The Better Way to Build Trade Coverage.

1. Upload plans → AI detects packages

Drop your PDF—AI identifies all trades and writes scope notes in minutes.

2. Publish your planroom

Organized by trade with specs, sheets, and addenda. Subs see everything clearly.

3. Match & invite qualified subs

Tap our verified network + your preferred vendors. Personalized invites get 2x more responses.

4. Track coverage in real-time

See who's opened, who's bidding, who needs a nudge. Auto-follow-ups keep subs engaged.

Compare Construction Bid Management Platforms

Features
Downtobid
BuildingConnected
SmartBid
PlanHub
BidMail
Blue Book Network
Pantera Tools
Pricing model
Starts at $149/mo
% of revenue
Per user
Per user (free tier)
Per user (volume)
Freemium
Per user (affordable)
AI package detection
Yes (15 minutes)
Manual sorting
Manual sorting
Manual sorting
Manual sorting
Manual sorting
Manual sorting
Personalized ITBs
Your branding
Portal email
Portal email
Generic invites
Customizable
Portal email
White-label invites
Verified sub database
57k+ verified
Large network
Large network
Network
Bring your own
Large directory
Blue book integration
Auto follow-ups
Smart reminders
Manual reminders
Manual reminders
Manual (basic)
Manual reminders
Manual reminders
Manual reminders
Coverage tracking
Real-time dashboard
Available
Available
Basic tracking
Limited tracking
Available
Available
Data export
Full CSV anytime
Available
Available
Available
Available
Available
Available
Planroom included
Auto-organized
Included (manual)
Included (manual)
Included (manual)
Basic planroom
Included (manual)
Included (manual)

Bid management features and capabilities

AI Plan-Room Builder

Upload a single ZIP or Drive link and Downtobid auto-sheets, titles, and indexes every drawing. Subs get a clean plan-room URL—no hunting through folders

AI Bid-Package Drafts

Click once to generate an editable, one-line scope description plus sheet refs for any trade. Nothing is sent until you approve or tweak the text.

Automated Bid Invites

First invite goes out instantly; two polite follow-ups schedule themselves and pause the moment a sub answers. You stay top-of-mind without ever spamming.

Coverage Tracker

Replies auto-tag as Bidding, Declined, or No reply and fill a live progress bar. You know by the next morning which trades are safe and which still need help.

Nation-wide Sub List

250 000+ active commercial subs—phone, email, license date—refreshed weekly. Filter by trade, ZIP radius, union status, then invite in two clicks.

Project & Email Templates

Save your favourite bid instructions, follow-up cadence, and trade sets as reusable templates. Launch the next project in minutes instead of starting from scratch.

Centralised Project Inbox

All sub replies—quotes, questions, declines—land in one searchable thread inside the project. No more digging through Outlook to find who said what.

CSV Import / Export

Drop in your existing sub spreadsheet and we’ll match names, fill missing contact info, and de-duplicate. Export everything any time—your data stays yours.

Inbox-Safe Deliverability

Each GC sends from a unique, SPF-aligned sub-domain with warmed IPs and matching branding. Invites hit the primary inbox, not spam or “Promotions”.

Sub Notes & Tags

Add private notes (e.g., “asks for net-30”) and color tags to any subcontractor. The context travels with every future project so you remember who’s reliable.

What the Early Adopters are Saying About Downtobid

"We have used Downtobid for our ITBs and so far our experience has been very positive. It has saved me time on the initial page turn and I really like the number of responses we're starting to see from our subcontractors!"

Robyn Lynn

MRI Builders

GH Pastor Saves 15+ Hours Per Week

See how GH Pastor streamlined their bid process and improved coverage using Downtobid.

Time to packages

15 min vs 2+ hours

Active projects

24 running

Bids per package

3.8 vs 1.9

Read Case Study

Frequently asked questions

How does AI package detection work?

Upload your PDF plan set. Our AI reads every sheet, identifies trade scopes, and drafts initial scope notes. You review and edit before sending—nothing goes out without approval.

How is Downtobid better than other ITB platforms?

Downtobid offers AI-powered bid package creation (15 minutes vs manual sorting), personalized ITBs from your domain (vs portal emails), and transparent per-user pricing (vs revenue percentage). Many GCs switch for the time savings alone.

How much does construction bid management software cost?

Downtobid starts at $149/month for your organization. Compare to BuildingConnected's revenue-based pricing (~$5k/year for a $10M GC) or SmartBid's per-seat model ($750-800 per user annually).

Can I import my existing sub list?

Yes. Upload via CSV and we'll match to our database, fill missing info, and flag duplicates. Your relationships stay intact.

How do I switch from BuildingConnected to Downtobid?

Export your sub list from BuildingConnected as CSV. Import to Downtobid and we'll match contacts, update info, and flag duplicates. Most teams complete migration in under an hour.

What makes ITBs "personalized"?

Each invite includes the sub's specific scope summary, relevant sheets, and your company branding. It looks like it came from you, because it did—unlike portal emails from competitors.

Do subcontractors pay to use Downtobid?

No. Subs access planrooms and submit bids free. They can upgrade to Bid Board for advanced features like bid tracking and deadline management.

Ready to modernize your bid management?

See why leading GCs choose AI-powered bid management over manual platforms.