Builders and subcontractors have been searching a long time for a way to expedite the bidding process and be more competitive at the same time. Request to Bid, an online bidding management system, says it has the solution.

The Naples-based firm links builders to subcontractors and other construction-related services, providing a streamlined process.

Normally, it takes about three weeks and costs about $1,500 to estimate the cost of a single-family dwelling. At Request to Bid, groups pay $200 a year so they can log in and access hundreds of suppliers instantly and even manage their records and project information. For an additional $100 they can include a link to their own site.

Owners Kari Whittemore (an accountant) and Chrissi Jackson (an engineer) bring more than 30 years of construction experience to their new business. Jackson explains how it works: "The user enters job details and chooses the members who have the expertise they're looking for, then contacts them for bids. They e-mail or fax the details, including deadlines. Reminder notices are sent out periodically. The benefit to subcontractors is a more cost-effective method of marketing and advertising."

There's also a consumer section for homeowners planning repairs or upgrades on their homes. Browsing is free, but there is a fee to hire a subcontractor.

Request to Bid serves five counties-Collier, Lee, Charlotte, Hendry and Glades-with plans to expand throughout the state. Whittemore and Jackson might build sites to suit insurance and accounting firms, attorneys, banks or any other kind of businesses involved in the building industry.

Request to Bid is a sister company of In Balance Inc., which provides construction-business services that help companies with new business licensing and incorporation, construction estimating, staffing, employee leasing, virtual office service, construction accounting and liability/workers compensa-

tion audits.

-Carol J. DeFrank