You may have seen this on the recent “changed” format, but still would like to receive any insight and comments on software procedures and spec text/provisions for use of electronic submittals-- along with watch-outs, war stories and other good advice for this direction.
We are looking seriously at getting into this format
so thanks for any and all help.
Coming from a supplier/subcontractor’s point of view, it is not that difficult to work with electronic submittals.
We use a free software program called “Software995” to print documents as a PDF file and another program called “Foxit” to edit PDF files. This program costs about $40.00
We also have a copy that scans documents into PDF format.
We’ve been requiring electronic submittals for a few years now. Some contractors are really hesitant to jump on board, but as far as I know, everyone has ended up being happy with it.
We require everything to be posted to our FTP site in PDF format. Every once in awhile a hard copy will sneak its way through, but we have a large scale scanner in our office so it’s really not a big deal.
The only “watch-out” I’d offer is to stay away from accepting submittals via email. The attachments just get way to large and consume too much mail box space. Other than that, we’ve found it a very efficient way of doing things.
Not to be rhetorical, but why do you need to edit .pdf files? And whose files were they originally?
“why do you need to edit .pdf files?”
Using a program like Bluebeam or the full version Acrobat, you can insert “stamps” with your submittal review stamp and signature on them, and/or you can insert new pages into the PDF with your transmittals or scanned page of your hand written stamped response.
You can also answer RFI’s easily by pasting in xclips from AutoCAD, or inserting text into the response fields, etc… It’s very convienent.
The projects we have completed, electronically, we have sent the submittals via email.
The “Foxit” program we use cannot edit an PDF as I originally posted, it stamps or can add notes to an PDF file.
Several years ago, I attended local CSI presentation on electronic submittals. I believe the speaker was from Bureau Veritas. They were in the process of developing a pilot program, working with State of Calif, for power plant construction. I seemed to recall that the presentation was “very heavy” on the authentication/verification process (i.e., who can comment on e-submittals, tracking, etc.), an aspect that you may want to consider/research considering that such could become “discovery” documents.