Ask Bid Package Question

Description

This function is part of the eBidding subsystem and is used by registered business partners, DBE service/suppliers, or PENNDOT users to ask questions about a published bid package. This function is not available to the general public. The Ask Bid Package Question function can be accessed from the Add links of a published Bid Package when the user selects "Bid Package Clarification" and clicks the Add button. This displays the Bid Package Clarification screen where the user enters the question text, along with a subject title and clicks the Submit button. When the question is submitted, it is immediately available to all users on the ECMS website, including the general public. Once submitted, the question can be accessed by authorized PENNDOT users in edit mode. This allows PENNDOT to enter response text and publish the response back to the ECMS website or to delete the question. See "How Do I Answer Bid Package Question" for additional details.

The system limits the time in which questions can be asked and answered based on the project type. For Standard and Municipal Projects, questions may not be asked if the current time is less than 47 hours prior to the let time, and submitted questions cannot be answered if the current time is less than 35 hours prior to the let time. For Emergency projects, questions may not be asked if the current time is less than 19 hours prior to the let time, and submitted questions cannot be answered if the current time is less than 15 hours prior to the let time. For Emergency Partial ECMS and Local Partial ECMS projects, the 'ask question' function is not available.

Quick Navigation

The following table provides an overview of the steps in this process. Detailed step-by-step directions are provided in the next section.

From this screen…	perform this action:
Navigation bar	Click Contractor Services option, followed by eBidding
eBidding home page	Click Bid Packages by Let Date link
Bid Packages by Let Date	Click Project Number hyperlink
Bid Package	Select "Bid Package Clarification" from Add links Click ADD button
Bid Package Clarification	Enter Subject Enter Question Text Click SUBMIT button Confirm action

Step-by-Step Directions

 

User Action	Result
Navigate to the ECMS website.	The ECMS Welcome page appears displaying the login link and the navigation bar on the left side.
Using the Registered Users Login fields at the top of the navigation bar, enter your user ID and password. Click GO or tap the Enter key.	The ECMS Welcome page appears. Your user name now appears at the top of the navigation bar, and the navigation bar options are tailored to your security group(s).
Select the Contractor Services option from the Navigation bar.	The Contractor Services options are displayed.
Select the eBidding option.	The eBidding home page is displayed.
Click the "Bid Packages by Let Date" link to locate the bid package.	The Bid Packages by Let Date screen is displayed.
Locate the bid package and click on the associated "Project" number link to open the bid package.	The selected Bid Package screen is displayed.
Select "Bid Package Clarification" from the Add links and click the ADD button.	The Bid Package Clarification screen is displayed in create mode.
Enter the subject and text of the question and click the SUBMIT button.	A message is displayed asking you to confirm that you want to submit this question and informing you that it will be published to the ECMS website. Note: If the 'ask question' cutoff time is passed, the SUBMIT button is not available.
Click OK on the message box.	The message box closes and a 'please wait' message is displayed. When processing is complete, a 'successful' message is displayed.
Click OK on the message box.	The message box closes, and you are returned to the Bid Package screen. An email notification has been generated and sent informing them that a question has been submitted for the project. Your question has been published to the ECMS website and is available to all users, including the general public from the Bid Package Questions and Answers Go link on the Bid Package screen.

Created by	Last Modified by
Joseph D Howe/PennDOT on 03/16/2005 at 10:48:16 AM	Wanda Taylor/PennDOT on 03/18/2005 at 12:46:55 PM