What BidNet Direct does well
BidNet Direct runs regional purchasing groups in many states, where counties, cities and school districts post bids in one place. If the counties you work with belong to one group, a free registration covers their documents, addenda and electronic submission. That's useful, and if you only bid in one group's area it may be all you need.
Where vendors run into gaps
- Most counties don't use it. Our research found that most US counties use no online bid platform at all and post bids on their own website, in the newspaper of record, or in board agendas. A BidNet Direct subscription doesn't cover those.
- Alerts cost extra. Free registration means checking the site yourself. Automatic notifications are a paid plan, priced by group or statewide.
- Early signals aren't included. Purchases often show up in board agendas weeks before the bid is advertised.
How FactWise is different
| BidNet Direct | FactWise | |
|---|---|---|
| Counties covered | Agencies in its purchasing groups | Every US county we've researched, on any platform or none |
| Seeing a bid | Free registration | Free, no login to view |
| Email alerts | Paid plans | Free for up to 2 counties; paid plans for more counties or whole states |
| Board agenda signals | No | Yes, where the county posts agendas online |
| Submitting your bid | On BidNet Direct, for its agencies | Always where the county says: we link to it |
FactWise doesn't replace a county's official platform. When a county takes bids on BidNet Direct, you still register there to download documents and submit. FactWise finds the bids, including the ones that never reach a platform, and sends you only what matches your business.
See which counties use BidNet Direct.
Which should you use?
- You bid in one purchasing group's area: a free BidNet Direct registration plus a FactWise county follow is enough.
- You bid across a state or a region with mixed platforms: use FactWise to see everything in one place, and register on each platform only when you decide to bid.
Questions
Is BidNet Direct free for vendors?
Registering is free and lets you download documents and respond to electronic bids for the agencies in that purchasing group. Automatic bid notifications are a paid plan; one Colorado agency's FAQ lists $108 a year for its group and $396 a year statewide.
Do I still need a BidNet Direct account if I use FactWise?
Yes, if you bid in a county that takes bids on BidNet Direct. Counties set where you download documents and submit. FactWise tells you about the bid and links to the county's posting.
Which counties use BidNet Direct?
See our list of counties that use BidNet Direct, which is updated from our county research.