Company: GISbid.com™

FOR MORE INFORMATION
Joseph R.Francica
256-650-0205
Joe.Francica@gisbid.com

Online project marketplace takes aim to connect project managers with service providers of geographic information management systems and solutions

Huntsville, Alabama - Today, GISbid.com™ announced that its online marketplace and exchange was now open for broad public collaboration.GISbid.com™ (www.GISbid.com) is a new online service providing a simple and secure venue to link project managers with providers of GIS services.The service will offer a listing of projects from organizations and companies in need of professionals in the geographic information systems (GIS) and spatial data industry.GIS professionals, offering services in the fields of computer mapping, photogrammetry, remote sensing, spatial database management, and software development can search for projects of any time duration on which to bid for the contract.Organizations that need to find service companies and consultants through a bid process are encouraged to post their projects free of charge.Bidding is established as an expression of interest in the project."Competitive bidding" in an attempt to lower prices or fees is not the intent of GISbid.com™.

"Until now, those in need of GIS services were faced with the daunting task of researching the constantly growing list of available service providers, narrowing down the list through interviews, checking references, requesting sample data, and negotiating a contract price," said Russ Tiensvold, chief executive of GISbid.com™." With even the smallest of projects, this can quickly consume a great deal of time.After the contract has been signed, many people still have a lingering feeling they could have gotten a better product or price if they had been able to spend more time researching service providers outside of their local area."

Project managers, in both the public and private sector, who wish to announce project initiatives, request for information (RFI) or request for proposals (RFP), and independent companies, consultants or agents can use GISbid.com™ in a common forum to efficiently facilitate the commercial exchange of service agreements.

"On the other side of the marketplace, GIS service providers are constantly working to locate the people and companies who need their services," said Joe Francica, Vice President of Business Development."While the Internet has become a wonderful tool for job placement, there has never been a good online resource for finding GIS contract work.Some web sites list RFPs, but they are seldom more than a bulletin board posting system with a few large projects and no interactivity.Now, GISbid.com™ provides a venue to match qualified consultants and service companies with organizations seeking to fill a resource need."

Spend a few minutes browsing through the www.GISbid.com web site and you will see it is a unique platform focused on helping GIS professionals from both sides of the marketplace to communicate project needs and services.In addition, GISbid offers a unique "private bidding" option called "GISbid Workgroups" which allows the posting organization to restrict project and bidding information to only those members "invited" to participate.This feature is especially suited for organizations that already maintain a select group of subcontractors with whom they regularly work.

There are two basic components within GISbid.com™.The first is focused on those in need of GIS services or products who can "post" their project on the site at no charge.The second is focused on GIS service providers who have paid a small subscription fee (introductory fees of $49 for the first 6 months for individuals; $199 for corporate subscribers with up to six members for 6 months) to review the posted projects and "bid" on those in which they are interested.Within the framework of "posting" and "bidding," there are a variety of tools to assist members.All communication between members is accomplished through an internal messaging system allowing members to remain anonymous, if desired, until they choose to reveal themselves.Service providers complete "profiles" which can include a complete company history, personal resumes, references, and a photo.The project lists are categorized by type of GIS project, and easily sorted.Members of GISbid.com™ can receive daily notifications of projects that meet their professional skills.Because price is generally not the primary factor in a GIS project, the site does not promote "price bidding" for projects.Service providers can offer a price publicly, privately, or negotiate it at a later time.

During the initial startup phase, GISbid.com™ is offering free subscriptions until July1, 2002 to GIS service providers.This open use period will allow members to try the services with no obligation other than to register and select their username.Posting projects will always be available at no charge.After the July 1, 2002 introductory period, site visitors will still be allowed to view the list of current projects but only paid subscribers will be allowed to view complete project details and bid on projects.

Assisting the development and promotion of GISbid.com™ is Directions Magazine, the premier publication of news and feature articles for the geographic information system professional.Directions Magazine, which has an exclusive relationship to promote GISbid.com™, will hold a minority interest in the company."GISbid.com will become yet another valuable service to the readers and subscribers of Directions Magazine," said Jane Elliott, publisher.

About GISbid.com™
GISbid.com™ is now the first marketplace specifically dedicated to spatial information professionals who are looking to outsource their services and become matched with project managers seeking GIS services.GISbid.com™ is an independent company, headquartered in Huntsville, Alabama.GISbid.com™is a trademark of the company.Personnel of GISbid.com™ include:

Mr.Russ Tiensvold, chief executive officer, is a certified photogrammetrist (ASPRS #953) with over 17 years experience in all phases of photogrammetry, including aerial photography, topographic mapping, digital imagery, project management and contract negotiation.He will manage daily operations of the company.

Mr.Joseph R.Francica, vice president of business development, has over 25 years of experience in GIS and is currently the editor and general manager of Directions Magazine as well as the principal of Geodezix Consulting.He has held executive management positions with Intergraph Corporation (Huntsville, AL), Vectiv Corporation (Berkeley, CA), and Adams Business Media (Chicago, IL) as past editor of Business Geographics Magazine.He holds a Bachelors Degree from Rutgers University (New Brunswick, NJ), a Master Degree from Dartmouth College (Hanover, NH), and an MBA from the Cox School of Business at Southern Methodist University (Dallas, TX).

Ms.Jane Elliott, board member, is the publisher of Directions Magazine and the principal of JSJ Elliott and Associates, Inc.Ms.Elliott helped found Wessex Corporation in the early nineties along with her husband Scott Elliott (deceased), a company which pioneered the development of affordable, nationwide street network data.