PennBid-Bonfire Training Documentation – Users & Bidders
This page contains a library of training resources covering topic-specific features and capabilities of the PennBid Program. They are grouped by existing Users who post and manage bids as well as bidders who want to submit bids online. Due to the extensive capabilities of the system, not all features or options are covered. For assistance, contact our office.
Project Setup Review Guide For New Bonfire Solicitations
This document provides Users with step-by-step instructions on reviewing your new project set up in the Bonfire-powered system.
How To Issue Addenda Via The Public Notices Tab
During your project solicitation, you may need to issue an addenda for vendors/bidders. This guide walks you through the addenda process.
Unsealing And Displaying Submitted Bid Results
Once your bid has closed, this step-by-step guide walks you through the bid unsealing “Releasing” and how to review and display the results.
Vendor Discussions And Posting Public Notice
Step-by-step instructions on responding to Vendor Questions through Messages and creating a Public Notice response to questions asked.
Revisions To EJCDC Document C-200 Instructions To Bidders
This document is intended to facilitate revisions to the “Instructions to Bidders,” EJCDC Document C200, 2018 Edition.
Revisions To AIA Document A701-2018 Instructions To Bidders
This document is intended to facilitate revisions to the “Instructions to Bidders,” AIA Document A701- 2018 Edition.
Instructions To Bidders – PennBid Supplement
This document facilitates the inclusion of “Instructions to Bidders,” within the bidding documents for those agencies not using industry-standard documents.
Project Setup Part 1 – Creating Basic Strategic Sourcing Project
Creating a base project using the new PennBid platform can be done in just a few minutes. Follow along with this step-by-step tutorial to get started!
Project Setup Part 2 – How To Upload Your Files
Public Files are placed on the portal and available for anyone to download. If you are looking to upload a Public File while also notifying vendors, you can do both at the same time by issuing a Public Notice.
Project Setup Part 3 – Requested Information Setup
One of the most critical aspects of setting up and running a project in PennBid is specifying which documents and information you want the vendor to submit to you. This is managed in the Requested Information section.
Project Setup Part 4 – Creating A Questionnaire
The Questionnaires feature in PennBid allows for a structured way to receive vendor responses for a large number of criteria while displaying the Vendor’s responses side-by-side.
Project Setup Part 5 – Creating A Bid Table
Bid Tables allow a Buyer to quickly solicit and evaluate projects with multiple bid items. The module also allows the ability to organize items into Baskets, analyze price spread among Vendors, and quickly generate order lists.
Project Setup Part 6 – Multiple Contract Solicitations
Multi-Category Decision (MCD) projects, previously called multi-prime bids, allow you to run bids that require multiple decisions to be made based on the Vendors’ submissions.
Vendor/Bidder Registration Process (Article)
Registering for a New Vendor Account is simple and consists of the following steps: Account Creation, Create a Password, Account Confirmation, Account Information, Documentation, and Selecting Commodity Codes.
Vendor Registration and Submission (Video)
This video details how a Vendor can create an account and how to submit a Proposal or Bid Submission through the PennBid system.
Creating & Uploading a Submission (Article)
This online article will walk you through the process of submitting a digital bid directly through the PennBid platform. You will need to be registered as a Vendor prior to submitting a bid.
Can I Revise My Submission? (Article)
It depends on whether your submissions has been finalized or not; in both cases, the project must still be in the Open stage (i.e., accepting submissions) in order to change your submission.
DBE Notification & Final Reporting Service
When requested, the PennBid Program completes required DBE (Disadvantaged Business Enterprises) notifications for many engineering firms and public agencies and provides a final report that can be sent to the funding agency.