Creating a new project

You create new projects using the Create Project wizard on the Projects page.

When creating a project using the Create Project wizard, you can use an existing project as a template. However, subcontractors and their associated bids are not copied from a template into new projects. To copy everything from an existing project to a new project, including the subcontractors and their bids, use the Copy Project option at the bottom of the Summary tab.

For information about copying a project, see Copying an existing project.

To create a new project:

On the BidMatrix toolbar, select Projects.
On the Projects page, select + Create Project.

The Create Project wizard appears.
If you have enabled integration with a construction management software platform, in the dialog select do one of the following as needed:
1. Select Procore, SmartBid, or BuildingConnected, and follow the prompts.
2. Select No External Source.
In the Details step, enter the project Name, Size, unit, and Bid Day.

These fields are required.
(Optional) Enter a Location.

Provide details such as the street address, city, ZIP code, region, state, or country. Sage BidMatrix then uses Azure Maps to identify the geographical location. If a match is found, the location icon turns green and you can hover over it to preview the identified location on the map.
(Optional) Enter a Client Name and any additional information about the project in the Notes field, as needed.
Select Next.
In the Attributes step, enter the project attributes.

Administrators or librarians can specify the project attributes in Libraries > Project Attributes.
Select Next.
(Optional) In the Templates step, if you want to use an existing project as a template for the project you’re creating, do the following:
1. Select Yes to start this project using an existing as a template.
2. In the text box, begin entering the name of the project to find existing projects.
  
  BidMatrix displays a list of projects that match your criteria.
3. Select the project that you want to use as a template for your new project from the Top Hits.
4. Select the content from the existing project to copy into the new project.
For information about using a template to create a new project, see About using existing projects as templates for new projects.
Select Next.
In the Permissions step, set the permissions for the project as follows:
- To enable everyone in your company with access to BidMatrix to view and edit the project, select Public - Anyone.
- To enable a specific subset of users, such as the project team, to view and edit the project, select Private - Me and those I allow. Then, select the users from the dropdown.
Select Next.
In the Insights step, do the following:
- In the Similar Projects section, configure the similar projects as follows:
  1. Select View Details.
  2. To update the conditions for matching similar projects, do the following as needed:
    - To add a condition, select Add another condition, select an attribute from the dropdown, set the operator, and enter the desired value.
    - To edit a condition, select it, make your changes to the operator and value, then select Save.
    - To remove a condition, select it and select the trash can icon ().
  3. To view and refine the list of similar projects, select Preview and customize list and do the following in the dialog as needed:
    - To remove a project from the similar projects list, select it from the list and select Remove from similar.
    - To add a project to the similar projects list, select the All other projects tab, select the project from the list, and select Add to similar.
- In the Suggested Subcontractors section, select Use Suggested Subcontractors to include automatically to the project subcontractors that bid the same bid package in at least three previous similar projects.
  
  The suggested subcontractors are identified based on their involvement in similar projects and other heuristic-based criteria.
- In the Activated Cost Indexes section, select the appropriate cost index that will be used to normalize historical bids to account for market fluctuations and regional cost differences.
  
  Learn more about adding and managing cost indexes.
Select Create.

Next step: Enter the project bid room and select the work breakdown structures (WBS) for the project bid packages and bid package phases.