Authority_October_2020

48 October 2020 - The Authority Going forward As the proverb goes: “Necessity is the mother of invention.” Although, in this case, the pandemic has merely shone a light on existing tools that only need- ed to be leveraged to their fullest to achieve a contactless, paperless work environment. Authorities that embraced these tools were able to continue the public bidding process uninterrupted and, in some cases, complete tasks that might not have been possible under the conditions. The pandemic also helped to highlight possibilities and strategies available to all authorities. Yes, we are all excited for the day when we can once again interact with our peers, colleagues, and friends as we used to. However, as with many changes prompted by necessity, we often discover tools that can make our lives easier and more efficient in the long run. Many authorities, which were initially leery to try some of these tools, have realized that the switch was not as daunting as antic- ipated. And while they may revert to in-person meetings for certain projects and needs, they will likely continue these new contactless practices going forward due to their efficiency. About PennBid A PMAA-endorsed program, PennBid streamlines the sealed bid management process with a state-of-the-art, web- based platform that saves considerable time and resources for public agencies. Provided at no cost to authorities and design firms in Delaware, Maryland, New York, Ohio, and Pennsylvania, PennBid leverages deep vendor pools to promote aggressive pricing – all while dramatically reducing costs for producing documents, advertising, and performing other time-consuming tasks. By promoting a “best-practices” approach to procurement, PennBid allows authorities to focus their energy on better data collection and deci- sion-making. For more information about PennBid or to arrange a demo of the program, visit www.pennbid.net . Pennsylvania’s Premier E-Procurement & Bid Management Program Reducing cost and time from every aspect of bid management • NO COST to Authorities & Design Firms • Vendor Notification & Management • Deep, Comprehensive Bidder Lists • DBE Notification & Final Reporting • Public Advertisement Savings • Enhanced Reporting and Analytics info@pennbid.net 610- 693- 4769 www.PennBid.net Program Endorsed By: • Bid Receipt and Auto Tabulation • Communication & Addenda with a Mouse Click • Record Retention & Process Transparency • Organizational Tiered Access • Historic Pricing for Budgeting • Customized Views and Layouts