Bid Components are simply your list of things that add into your bid. Data Files lets you set-up Bid Components in your most common Bid Templates in the master Bid Templates file. There can be one primary Bid Template and nine alternates. The program automatically makes a copy of the master Bid Templates for each new Estimate created after customizing. You can change the Estimate Bid Template File through Estimates > Bid Templates. This lets you set-up special expenses and so on that apply to a particular Estimate. When you create a bid you can select which Bid Template you want to use for that bid. You can make changes to the components to tailor them to a specific bid, fill in rates and amounts, and see your total bid.
Bid Components include material, labor, and miscellaneous amount subtotals (taken from the subtotals described above), direct expenses, overhead, profit, and bond.
For each bid component you may either enter an amount or you may specify how the amount is to be calculated. For example, direct expenses such as permits and fees are usually an amount you enter for each bid. A bid component such as sales tax, on the other hand, is usually calculated as a percentage of the material subtotal. The method for setting up such calculations is described in the Bid Templates topic.