Administering contracts over data network

Abstract

A method is provided for integrating a contract administration project and a corresponding accounting job via a graphical user interface of a web client. The method includes retrieving contract administration data corresponding to the project from a web server over a first data network, the contract administration data including a schedule of values having multiple line items; retrieving accounting data corresponding to the corresponding accounting job from an accounting system over a second data network, the accounting data including a job file having multiple job items; and mapping the contract administration data to the accounting system data. The mapping includes matching a line item of the schedule of values with at least one job item of the job file.

1 . A method for integrating a contract administration project and a corresponding accounting job via a graphical user interface of a web client, the method comprising:
 retrieving contract administration data corresponding to the project from a web server over a first data network, the contract administration data comprising a schedule of values having a plurality of line items;   retrieving accounting data corresponding to the corresponding accounting job from an accounting system over a second data network, the accounting data comprising a job file having a plurality of job items; and   mapping the contract administration data to the accounting system data, the mapping comprising matching a line item of the schedule of values with at least one job item of the job file.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 updating the accounting data based on a change order; and   subsequently updating the contract administration data based on the updated accounting data uploaded to the web server.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving an application for payment from a participant in the project over the first data network, the application for payment comprising at least one entry corresponding to one of the plurality of line items;   downloading the at least one entry to the accounting system over the first and second data networks in real time; and   generating an accounts payable invoice at the accounting system incorporating the at least one entry.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 reconciling actual costs of the accounting job based at least in part on the application for payment.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 uploading job cost information from the accounting system over the second data network; and   preparing a general contractor application for payment using the job cost information from the accounting system.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 downloading at least one entry of the general contractor application for payment to the accounting system over the second data; and   generating an accounts receivable invoice at the accounting system incorporating the at least one entry.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 validating that the line item of the schedule of values has been mapped to the at least one job item.   
     
     
         8 . A computer readable medium storing code, executable by a computer processor, for integrating a project in a contract administration program and a corresponding job in an accounting system, the project comprising at least one subcontractor schedule of values (SOV) corresponding to at least one subcontractor and a general contractor SOV corresponding to a general contractor, and the job comprising at least one commitment corresponding to the at least one subcontractor SOV and a contract corresponding to the general contractor SOV, the computer readable medium comprising:
 subcontractor associating code for associating line items of the at least one subcontractor SOV of the contract administration program with commitment entry items of the corresponding at least one commitment of the accounting system;   general contractor associating code for associating line items of the general contractor SOV of the contract administration program with contract entry items of the corresponding contract of the accounting system;   subcontractor importing code for importing a subcontractor application for payment (AFP) from the at least one subcontractor into the accounting system and creating at least one corresponding accounts payable (A/P) invoice for the at least one subcontractor;   creating code for creating a general contractor AFP based at least in part on the subcontractor AFP; and   general contractor importing code for importing the general contractor AFP into the accounting system and creating at least one corresponding accounts receivable (A/R) invoice for the general contractor.   
     
     
         9 . The computer readable medium of  claim 8 , wherein the creating code comprises uploading code for uploading the at least one A/P invoice to the contract administration program from the accounting system via the interface, wherein the general contractor AFP is created using the uploaded at least one A/P invoice. 
     
     
         10 . The computer readable medium of  claim 8 , wherein creating the general contractor AFP comprises using the subcontractor AFP without the at least one A/P invoice. 
     
     
         11 . The computer readable medium of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 subcontractor validating code for validating that the line items of the at least one subcontractor SOV have been mapped to the commitment entry items of the corresponding at least one commitment; and   general contractor validating code for validating that the line items of the general contractor SOV have been mapped to the contract entry items of the corresponding contract.   
     
     
         12 . The computer readable medium of  claim 8 , wherein the job is created in the accounting system first, and the at least one subcontractor SOV and the general contractor SOV are created automatically based at least in part on the at least one commitment and the contract of the previously created job. 
     
     
         13 . The computer readable medium of  claim 8 , wherein the project is created in the contract administration program and the job is created separately in the accounting system, the computer readable medium further comprising:
 mapping code for subsequently mapping the at least one subcontractor SOV and the at least one commitment to one another.   
     
     
         14 . The computer readable medium of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 comparing code for comparing dollar amounts of the at least one subcontractor SOV and the at least one commitment to validate accuracy of the mapping.   
     
     
         15 . The computer readable medium of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 reconciling code for reconciling actual costs of the job based at least in part on the subcontractor AFP and the general contractor AFP.   
     
     
         16 . A method for performing a contract administration project having via a graphical user interface of a web client over a data network, the method comprising:
 creating a schedule of values relating to the project via the via the graphical user interface;   providing an estimated time of performance for the schedule of values to be completed via the graphical user interface;   receiving at least one application for payment over the data network applicable to the schedule of values;   updating the schedule of values based on the at least one received application for payment;   determining an actual time of performance based on the updated schedule of values; and   automatically comparing the actual time of performance with the estimated time of performance to track progress of the project.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein each of the estimated time of performance and the actual time of performance is divided into a plurality of corresponding time periods. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein comparing the actual time of performance with the estimated time of performance comprises comparing corresponding time periods, wherein the corresponding time periods comprise months. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 automatically generating a graph comprising a first line showing the estimated time of performance and a second line showing the actual time of performance; and   causing the graph to be displayed via the graphical user interface.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the graph is generated substantially in real time as the actual time of performance is determined.