Static site — no Python or Streamlit server on your PC. Keep this folder under your project path (e.g. Z:\gt_dev\five_star\web). Your web host maps site root Z:\get_dev to https://smb.a1prospect.com — mirror or publish the web folder under that root so the URL matches your IT layout (example: /gt_dev/five_star/web/). Users open the page in a browser, pick files from their computer, then download outputs.

? What This page runs entirely in the browser; files are read locally and nothing is uploaded to BidForge servers. Why Matches a simple static host on your Z drive without running a local web server. How Ask IT for the exact HTTPS path that corresponds to web\index.html. PDF text uses a CDN script (pdf.js); allow that script if your security policy blocks CDNs.

BidForge Pro v2 - Five Star Painting

Browser workflow: takeoff CSV/JSON + spec PDF/TXT → draft proposal and project plan. ? What You provide quantities (takeoff) and specification text (to detect MPI paint systems). The page applies calibrated labor, material, overhead, margin, and contingency rules, then lets you download a proposal and data files. Why Speeds a consistent first pass; you still review every line before any formal submission. How Fill Project fields, attach files (or use the sample takeoff), click Run, then use Results downloads.

Project

? What Inputs that label the job and steer the pricing model (labor basis, relationship, risk bucket). Why These values feed the math engine and file names; they do not replace your professional judgment on final price.

Project name ? What The name shown on the proposal header and used in downloaded file names. Why Keeps exports organized when you run many bids; helps match files to the GC job in your drive. How Use the GC job name, invitation ID, or your internal job number—avoid characters that break file names if possible.

Client relationship ? What Tells the model how aggressive margin can be: strong uses a lower target margin; medium and new use a higher cushion (new is treated like medium in the formula). Why Repeat clients and known payers often justify tighter pricing; cold relationships carry more risk. How Pick the option that best describes payment history and relationship; adjust final price after review.

Labor type ? What Chooses loaded hourly rates for union (NJ prevailing style) vs open-shop in the built-in rate table. Why Fully burdened labor is usually the largest cost bucket; wrong basis skews the entire bid. How Match how you intend to execute—your own crews, subs, and any PLA requirements on the job.

Union (NJ prevailing) Open-shop

Project type ? What Short description used for risk logic. If the text contains hospital (case-insensitive), the model adds a higher contingency factor. Why Healthcare-type work often has stricter specs, infection control, and rework risk than typical commercial TI. How Type e.g. commercial, school, or hospital wing as appropriate.

Documents (from your machine)

? What The takeoff file supplies paintable square feet; the spec file or pasted text lets the tool find MPI system references. Why Without SF there is no quantity driver; without spec text the tool falls back to default MPI systems. How Browsers cannot silently read Z:\...; use Browse and select files you already saved from the portal or estimating tool. You may upload a .zip for takeoff and/or specs (see each file’s ? help).

Browsers cannot read a server path directly; use Browse to choose files. Leave takeoff empty to use the built-in sample. ZIP takeoff: merges every .csv/.json that has sqft. ZIP spec: merges text from all PDFs/TXTs (page and size caps apply—see ? help).

Takeoff (CSV, JSON, or ZIP) ? What A table with at least one column named sqft (case-insensitive), or a ZIP with one or more such .csv / .json files (any folder path). Why Total SF drives labor hours, gallons, and rolled-up pricing in this model. How (ZIP) Every readable takeoff file with a sqft column is merged into one project (sorted by path). Each row gets _bidforge_source so you know which file it came from. Files that fail to parse or lack sqft are skipped. How (loose file) Export CSV/JSON from your takeoff tool. Leave blank to run the demo takeoff.

Division 09 / specs (PDF, TXT, or ZIP) ? What Painting spec (often Division 09) as PDF or TXT, or a ZIP with the whole bid document set (specs, drawings, cut sheets, etc.). Why Material logic keys off MPI strings found in all extracted text—closer to a full-project read than a single file. How (ZIP) Every .pdf and .txt in the archive is processed: hint order (e.g. spec, 09, paint) first, then alphabetical. Text is concatenated. Each PDF is limited to 300 pages; total combined text about 3M characters (then truncated) so browsers stay responsive. Image-only PDFs still contribute little—add TXT where needed. How (loose file) Upload one PDF or TXT; use the paste box if extraction fails.

Optional: paste spec text (helps if PDF parse fails) ? What Free text merged with anything read from the PDF. Use snippets straight from the spec viewer or Word. Why Many bid PDFs are image-based or have garbled text; pasting preserves MPI strings the search needs. How Copy paragraphs that list coating systems; include exact MPI identifiers as they appear in the contract.

? What Runs the full calculator in your browser: labor crew/days estimate, materials from MPI table, overhead, margin, contingency, then prepares downloads. Why Produces a consistent draft package you can review against your manual estimate. How Click after selecting inputs; wait for the Results section to appear; verify totals before any client-facing submission.

Results

? What Outputs from the last Run: model total, summary JSON preview, and download actions. Why Lets you move numbers into your proposal template, accounting, or the GC portal after review. How “Open proposal” previews HTML; use Print to PDF if you need a PDF. JSON is the structured project plan; CSV echoes the takeoff you ran.

Model total (review before submission): ? What Single rolled-up number from the internal formula—not a guaranteed market price. Why Useful for sanity checks and drafts; GCs and owners still expect your formal breakdown and terms.

Summary (labor, materials, crew, days, systems): ? What A quick read-only snapshot of key outputs. The full plan is in the JSON download. Why Confirms which MPI systems were picked up and the crew/day assumptions baked into labor.

? What Opens the draft proposal HTML in a new browser tab for proofreading. Why Fast review before saving; use browser Print to PDF for a client PDF if needed. ? What Saves the same proposal as an HTML file to your Downloads or chosen folder. Why Email or archive a version that matches the numbers from this run. ? What Converts the proposal HTML to a Word document in your browser (html-docx-js). Why GCs and owners often want .docx for redlines. Complex tables may need cleanup in Word; for a native export use the Streamlit/Python run with python-docx. ? What Machine-readable project record: totals, MPI list, and takeoff rows. Why Useful for backups, importing into other tools, or audit trails—not for direct upload to most GC portals. ? What Comma-separated file of the takeoff rows used in the run (sample or uploaded). Why Lets you open in Excel, attach to the job folder, or compare to your source takeoff.

Open the HTML proposal and use Print → Save as PDF if you need a PDF file.