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What is The Blue Book and who uses it?
The Blue Book is a regionalized directory of commercial construction professionals including: general and subcontractors, architects, engineers, regional and national manufacturers. The Blue Book is circulated to: real estate developers and managers, government purchasing agents, and various institutions such as schools, hotels, hospitals and other locations with facilities managers who hire contractors or buy building materials on a regular basis.
How do I qualify to receive, or get listed in The Blue Book? Is there a limit to the amount of books my company can receive each year?
Professionals who provide a product or service to the commercial construction industry qualify for a listing in The Blue Book. Professionals who hire contractors or buy large quantities of building materials on a regular basis qualify to receive a free copy of The Blue Book. Individuals can fill out the online "Request a Free Blue Book" form or send a fax or letter to The Blue Book headquarters on company letterhead, including the following information: the complete official company name, business address, telephone, fax, and names and titles of the person(s) requesting a book. There is no set limit to the amount of books sent to a company, however, individuals must demonstrate that they are currently working, or bidding, on a job in that area. At this time, The Blue Book is only available within the United States.
Fax requests to: 914-243-0287, or mail to: P.O. Box 500, Jefferson Valley, NY 10535.
How do I advertise in The Blue Book?
Qualified professionals providing a product or service to the commercial construction industry can contact their local Blue Book Sales Representative or The Blue Book headquarters at 800-431-2584 regarding media kits and advertising rates.
Is there a cost to receive The Blue Book?
The Blue Book is distributed free of charge to anyone providing a product or service to the commercial construction industry or anyone who hires contractors or buys building materials on a regular basis. At this time The Blue Book is only available within the United States.
How does The Blue Book insure that its classifications remain current with today's construction industry?
In order to make The Blue Book more useful for buyers and sellers, the Editorial Department conducts "Classification Oversight" on a daily basis. This process involves identifying obsolete classification titles and developing new classifications. The reviewing and researching of classifications is carried out by collecting information from industry directories and publications, examining Internet websites, conducting provider and user surveys and participating in national trade shows. The Editorial Department maintains an extensive ongoing category file of discontinued as well as underdeveloped and potential classification title areas.
How often is The Blue Book updated? Is the same information online and in the printed books?
All of the same information is accessible online and in printed regional Blue Book directories. The Editorial Department is responsible for maintaining the extensive database of Blue Book users, as well as locating and qualifying new companies to receive our directories. Our files are kept current and accurate year round through thousands of verification notices and telephone calls to new and existing users. Company information, book recipients, number of books and regions required, are updated daily. Changes are published on the Internet within one business day. As books are printed once per year, any changes to print directories are reflected on a yearly basis.
What is Blue Book Messaging and how do I get started?
Blue Book Messaging enables you to message companies individually or simultaneously via fax, email or through the BB-Bid network. You may select multiple companies across several classifications throughout all Blue Book regions. If you are using Internet Explorer, the companies you select will be automatically saved as you navigate from one page to the next. If you are a Netscape user, upon making company selections on a particular screen, you must click on "Save" (located at the top of the company selection column) before you proceed to the next screen. When you are ready to message, click on "Send." You will then be asked to identify the type of message that you want to create.
- Invitation to Bid (Services)
- Request for Quote (Materials and Equipment)
- Request for Information
Now, just follow these 3 easy steps:
Step 1: Enter your project's main information - title, address, bid date and time, scope of work and the location(s) of plans and specifications.
Step 2: Continue to search The Blue Book's database by selecting a regional directory and entering a "Keyword." Based on your keyword, The Blue Book will return related classifications. Within those classifications, you can select multiple companies for direct messaging or publish in "BidScope" to solicit bids from the entire classification. This process can be repeated across several classifications prior to submitting your message.
Step 3: Enter your contact information and submit your message. To assure that you are the creator and sender of the "ITB," "RFQ" or "RFI" a Blue Book representative will contact you before your message is released.
If you have any questions or need assistance, please call the BB-Bid Support Staff at (888) 303-2243.
What is BB-Bid?
BB-Bid is The Blue Book’s web-based project communication network that enables you to direct message your preferred vendors - individually or simultaneously - via email, fax and in-network. BB-Bid network vendors can view and respond to your "Invitations to Bid" or "Requests for Quote" from their private ‘In-Boxes.’ Their network responses and bid submittals are automatically updated for you, which eliminates time-consuming data entry.
Does The Blue Book have plans to expand its coverage of the construction industry to additional markets?
Yes! The Blue Book is committed to developing a construction information network in all major markets in the United States. In January 2009, the new Minnesota (Including Western Wisconsin) print edition arrived and in the Spring, Tennessee will be added as an exclusive online edition. The Blue Book is always building its files for market expansion.
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