Computer System and Method for Construction Project Prequalification and Management

Abstract

An example software technology may function to both facilitate a prequalification process for construction projects and also leverage the information obtained during the prequalification process to facilitate subsequent management of a construction project. In one aspect, an example prequalification software tool may provide an interface through which a user associated with the GC can create prequalification forms for obtaining prequalification information from subcontractors, where each prequalification form can be tailored for a particular type of construction project, a particular aspect of a construction project being put out to bid or the like. In a further aspect, after a subcontractor has submitted its prequalification submission to the GC, the example prequalification software tool may provide an interface through which a user associated with the GC may review the subcontractor's prequalification submission and then, if desired, either approve or reject the subcontractor's prequalification submission (or perhaps flag it for follow up).

1 . A computing system comprising:
 at least one processor;   a non-transitory computer-readable medium; and   program instructions stored on the non-transitory computer-readable medium that are executable by the at least one processor such that the computing system is configured to:
 define a set of one or more rules related to prequalification to work on one or more construction projects to apply to prequalification information, each rule of the set of one or more rules specifying a respective prequalification condition for one or more entities to work on the one or more construction projects; 
 receive an identification of a first entity that is invited to seek prequalification to work on the one or more construction projects via a prequalification form; 
 cause a first client station associated with the first entity to present a first interface for submitting prequalification information; 
 receive, from the first client station, a completed submission of the prequalification form comprising a given set of prequalification information for the first entity; 
 after receiving the completed submission, evaluate the given set of prequalification information; and 
 implement a change to a configuration of an external software tool for managing the one or more construction projects in response to the evaluation of the given set of prequalification information revealing that one or more of the rules of the set of one or more rules are not met. 
   
     
     
         2 . The computing system of  claim 1 , further comprising program instructions stored on the non-transitory computer-readable medium that are executable by the at least one processor such that the computing system is configured to:
 cause a second client station associated with a second entity to present a second interface for reviewing the given set of prequalification information;   receive, from the second client station, user input related to a review by the second entity of the given set of prequalification information;   based at least in part on the user input, assign a prequalification status to the first entity; and   cause a third client station associated with the first entity to present an indication of the prequalification status for the first entity.   
     
     
         3 . The computing system of  claim 2 , wherein the program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the computing system is configured to receive, from the second client station, the user input related to the review by the second entity of the given set of prequalification information comprise program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the computing system is configured to receive one or more user selections marking at least a portion of the given set of prequalification information as reviewed. 
     
     
         4 . The computing system of  claim 2 , wherein the user input related to the review by the second entity of the given set of prequalification information comprises user input confirming a given prequalification status to be assigned to the first entity, and
 wherein the program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the computing system is configured to assign the prequalification status to the first entity comprise program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the computing system is configured to assign the given prequalification status to the first entity in response to receiving the user input confirming the given prequalification status to be assigned to the first entity.   
     
     
         5 . The computing system of  claim 2 , further comprising program instructions stored on the non-transitory computer-readable medium that are executable by the at least one processor such that the computing system is further configured to:
 cause a third client station associated with a third entity to present a third interface for reviewing and approving the change to the configuration of the external software tool; and   receive, from the third client station, a user input indicating approval of the change; and   wherein the program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the computing system is configured to implement the change to the configuration of the external software tool comprise program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the computing system is configured to implement the change to the configuration of the external software tool after receiving the user input indicating the approval of the change.   
     
     
         6 . The computing system of  claim 2 , further comprising program instructions stored on the non-transitory computer-readable medium that are executable by the at least one processor such that the computing system is further configured to:
 assign to the second entity a task of reviewing a first portion of the given set of prequalification information; and   assign to a third entity a task of reviewing a second potion of the given set of prequalification information, wherein the third entity is different than the second entity.   
     
     
         7 . The computing system of  claim 1 , further comprising program instructions stored on the non-transitory computer-readable medium that are executable by the at least one processor such that the computing system is configured to:
 based on the evaluation, flag the completed submission for further review.   
     
     
         8 . The computing system of  claim 1 , wherein the external software tool is selected from the group consisting of a punch-list software tool that facilitates management of punch items, a daily-log software tool that facilitates management of daily construction activities, an invoicing software tool that facilitates management of invoicing, a commitments software tool that facilitates management of contracts and purchase orders, and a change-orders software tool that facilitates management of change orders. 
     
     
         9 . The computing system of  claim 1 , wherein the program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the computing system is configured to implement the change to the configuration of the external software tool comprise program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the computing system is configured to automatically implement the change to the configuration of the external software tool based on the evaluation. 
     
     
         10 . The computing system of  claim 1 , wherein each rule of the set of one or more rules specifies a respective action to take if the prequalification information indicates that the respective prequalification condition for the one or more entities to work on the one or more construction projects is met. 
     
     
         11 . The computing system of  claim 1 , wherein each rule of the set of one or more rules is based on one or more of (i) input from a general contractor, (ii) a predefinition by a provider of a software tool for prequalifying entities to work on construction projects, or (iii) an analysis of historical data. 
     
     
         12 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium, wherein the non-transitory computer-readable medium is provisioned with program instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause a computing system to:
 define a set of one or more rules related to prequalification to work on one or more construction projects to apply to prequalification information, each rule of the set of one or more rules specifying a respective prequalification condition for one or more entities to work on the one or more construction projects;   receive an identification of a first entity that is invited to seek prequalification to work on the one or more construction projects via a prequalification form;   cause a first client station associated with the first entity to present a first interface for submitting prequalification information;   receive, from the first client station, a completed submission of the prequalification form comprising a given set of prequalification information for the first entity;   after receiving the completed submission, evaluate the given set of prequalification information; and   implement a change to a configuration of an external software tool for managing the one or more construction projects in response to the evaluation of the given set of prequalification information revealing that one or more of the rules of the set of one or more rules are not met.   
     
     
         13 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 12 , wherein the non-transitory computer-readable medium is also provisioned with program instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause the computing system to:
 cause a second client station associated with a second entity to present a second interface for reviewing the given set of prequalification information;   receive, from the second client station, user input related to a review by the second entity of the given set of prequalification information;   based at least in part on the user input, assign a prequalification status to the first entity; and   cause a third client station associated with the first entity to present an indication of the prequalification status for the first entity.   
     
     
         14 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 13 , wherein the program instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause the computing system to receive, from the second client station, the user input related to the review by the second entity of the given set of prequalification information comprise program instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause the computing system to receive one or more user selections marking at least a portion of the given set of prequalification information as reviewed. 
     
     
         15 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 13 , wherein the user input related to the review by the second entity of the given set of prequalification information comprises user input confirming a given prequalification status to be assigned to the first entity, and
 wherein the program instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause the computing system to assign the prequalification status to the first entity comprise program instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause the computing system to assign the given prequalification status to the first entity in response to receiving the user input confirming the given prequalification status to be assigned to the first entity.   
     
     
         16 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 13 , wherein the non-transitory computer-readable medium is also provisioned with program instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause the computing system to:
 cause a third client station associated with a third entity to present a third interface for reviewing and approving the change to the configuration of the external software tool; and   receive, from the third client station, a user input indicating approval of the change; and   wherein the program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the computing system is configured to implement the change to the configuration of the external software tool comprise program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the computing system is configured to implement the change to the configuration of the external software tool after receiving the user input indicating the approval of the change.   
     
     
         17 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 13 , wherein the non-transitory computer-readable medium is also provisioned with program instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause the computing system to:
 assign to the second entity a task of reviewing a first portion of the given set of prequalification information; and   assign to a third entity a task of reviewing a second potion of the given set of prequalification information, wherein the third entity is different than the second entity.   
     
     
         18 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 12 , wherein the non-transitory computer-readable medium is also provisioned with program instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause the computing system to:
 based on the evaluation, flag the completed submission for further review.   
     
     
         19 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 12 , wherein the program instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause the computing system to implement the change to the configuration of the external software tool comprise program instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause the computing system to automatically implement the change to the configuration of the external software tool based on the evaluation. 
     
     
         20 . A method carried out by a computing system, the method comprising:
 defining a set of one or more rules related to prequalification to work on one or more construction projects to apply to prequalification information, each rule of the set of one or more rules specifying a respective prequalification condition for one or more entities to work on the one or more construction projects;   receiving an identification of a first entity that is invited to seek prequalification to work on the one or more construction projects via a prequalification form;   causing a first client station associated with the first entity to present a first interface for submitting prequalification information;   receiving, from the first client station, a completed submission of the prequalification form comprising a given set of prequalification information for the first entity;   after receiving the completed submission, evaluating the given set of prequalification information; and   implementing a change to a configuration of an external software tool for managing the one or more construction projects in response to the evaluation of the given set of prequalification information revealing that one or more of the rules of the set of one or more rules are not met.