Bidding and Estimation AI Agent

The Bidding and Estimation AI Agent is an AI estimating agent for construction and other project-based industries, part of DANAOS ProjectVIEW AI. It aims to compare a new estimate with comparable items and Cost Recipes from your own past projects. It also aims to flag unusual assumptions and recommend corrections before the bid goes out. The estimator or bidding manager reviews and approves every change. In addition, it aims to import and clean BoQs from any Excel file or format into ProjectVIEW ERP. It then produces a quick early budget by linking Cost Recipes (productivity templates) to the BoQ items, so the system fills in the resources automatically.

It is also designed to shorten the path from design to a priced budget:

• Extracts BoQs from drawings and designs, and reconciles elements, attributes and quantities with the BIM (3D) model.
• Associates Productivity Templates and Cost Recipes with each BoQ item.
• Accelerates budgeting with realistic data from previously executed projects and current market prices.

The agent works on the data held in the Budget, Estimation and Bidding module of ProjectVIEW ERP, the integrated ERP built on the BoQ ↔ WBS ↔ Cost Codes framework. Because every item links to the same structure, the agent can compare like with like.

• Bill of Quantities items and their descriptions
• Cost Recipes: labour, materials, machinery and time behind each unit rate
• Historical estimates and the actual cost recorded on completed projects
• Supplier and subcontractor prices held in the ERP
• WBS and Cost Codes that tie each item to how the team builds and controls it

The agent follows the ProjectVIEW AI agent cycle. Applied to estimating, the steps are:

1. Detect: scan the draft estimate for unit rates, quantities or productivity assumptions that differ from comparable items.
2. Investigate: retrieve similar BoQ items and Cost Recipes from past bids and completed projects.
3. Explain: state why an item looks unusual, for example a labour productivity that is higher than on similar work.
4. Recommend: propose a revised rate or recipe, with the comparable items it is based on.
5. Request approval: send the recommendation to the estimator or bidding manager.
6. Execute: after approval, update the estimate in ProjectVIEW ERP.
7. Audit: record what the agent flagged, who approved it and what changed.

The agent does not submit bids or change prices on its own. It works with the same roles and permissions as the user who receives its recommendations.

The table shows the main inputs, outputs and decision points.

The Bidding and Estimation AI Agent works inside ProjectVIEW ERP governance, following the chain Identity → Role → Permission → Data → AI → Action. It sees only the data the user’s role allows and proposes only actions that role could take. AI should operate inside enterprise governance, not around it.

• Consequential actions always need human approval.
• Also, the system records every recommendation, approval and change for audit.
• Data stays in the client’s private environment and never goes to public consumer AI services.

Illustrative example. A contractor is pricing a road and drainage package, Project A. The estimator builds the BoQ in ProjectVIEW ERP using Cost Recipes from earlier jobs.

First, the agent compares the draft with similar items on completed projects and flags two things: an excavation rate that assumes higher machine output than past jobs achieved, and a pipe supply price older than the latest supplier quotation in the system.

For each item, it then shows the comparable records and suggests a revised rate. The estimator accepts one change, keeps the other with a note, and the bidding manager reviews the remaining assumptions before the team issues the bid. Finally, the system logs every step.

The agent serves the people who build and approve bids:

• Cost estimators who want a second check on rates and productivity assumptions
• Bidding managers who sign off the final price and the risks carried in it

It applies to construction and to other project-based industries that price work from a BoQ, such as shipbuilding and repair, marine and offshore works, mining and quarrying, and project-based manufacturing.