Refreshed continuously
Awarded bids ingest in 24 hours. Supplier feeds update every 6. CPI tracks live. Your number moves with the market.
Live commercial bid pricing data, refreshed continuously.
An alternative to Marshall & Swift, RSMeans, and 1build, built for capital-side workflows that need defensible regional cost data, not annual modeled estimates.
Lake County, OH
Commercial demolition
$6.40
$8.60
$7.20/sf
3 live data sources
zip3 regional granularity
Daily refresh cadence
USPAP citable methodology
API available
Why annual databases miss
Marshall & Swift and RSMeans refresh annually. When prices move, the published number is six to eighteen months stale by the time you cite it.
The fix is not a better modeled database. It is access to live awarded-bid data, supplier feeds, and real-time commodity tracking. That is what BidFlow publishes.
What you get with every query
Capabilities built around the workflows of underwriters, appraisers, and pre-construction GCs. No black-box estimates.
USPAP-citable
Every regional median ships with sample size, source breakdown, timestamp, and methodology trail.
REST API access
Embed BidFlow into underwriting platforms or appraisal workflows.
Per-zip3 granularity
Cost basis drilled to zip3 (first three digits) so regional precision survives while buyer identity stays protected.
One database, five workflows
The cost basis is the same. The packet, citation format, and audit trail adapt to the file you are filling out.
Insurance underwriting
Defensible demolition, debris, and replacement cost numbers for commercial property policies. The packet drills to zip3, ships with sample size and source breakdown, and pastes straight into the policy file.
- Per-zip3 demolition, debris, and replacement cost queries
- Hazmat / asbestos / lead adders with sample size
- Ordinance & law upgrade cost overlays
- PDF underwriting packet with audit trail and timestamp
- Optional vetted contractor roster per metro
Cost approach for commercial appraisals
Marshall & Swift is the default. BidFlow is the alternative when the property is in a volatile market, the assignment is for litigation or estate, or the appraisal needs to hold up under cross-examination.
- USPAP-citable methodology trail on every query
- IRS Pub 561 alignment for date-of-death and donation appraisals
- Expert-witness defensibility with sample size and source label
- Cost approach line items drilled to CSI division
- Saved cost-basis records per property
Pre-bid validation for commercial GCs
Validate your $100K lumber package or $250K curtain wall against live regional data before you bother subcontractors. The system flags variances with the cause attached.
- Pre-bid variance flagging by CSI division
- Trade-package sanity checks (lumber, glazing, MEP, structural steel)
- Variance cause attribution (CPI / supplier / labor)
- Hard-dollar bid risk indicator before issue
- No reverse auctions, no auto-PO to your relationships
Corporate facility teams & developers
Every PO needs a defensible cost basis for finance, and every pro forma needs lender-acceptable hard-cost benchmarks. The packet attaches directly to a PO request or a feasibility memo.
- Multi-property portfolio mode with version-tracking
- PO-attachable cost-basis sheet with methodology citation
- Lender-defensible pro forma hard-cost benchmarks
- Net-30 supplier list per metro on demand
- API access for embedding into procurement workflows
Commercial real estate negotiations
Inspection found a $50K SLC repair right before closing. The packet returns the regional median with sample size and data-source breakdown you can attach to the addendum.
- Per-trade repair cost packets (SLC, drywall, roofing, HVAC, foundation)
- Regional median + IQR with sample size
- Addendum-ready PDF with methodology citation
- Commercial-grade defensibility
How BidFlow compares
| BidFlow | Marshall & Swift | RSMeans | 1build | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awarded bid data | Yes | — | — | — |
| Supplier-fed pricing | Yes | — | Limited | Primary |
| Live CPI / PPI | Yes | — | Annual | Limited |
| Refresh cadence | Continuous | Annual | Annual | Continuous |
| Sample size on median | Yes | — | — | Partial |
| Insurance / appraisal use case | Designed for it | Industry default | Adapted | Not designed for it |
| REST API | Available | Limited | Limited | Available |
Frequently asked
Is this a replacement for Marshall & Swift?
For commercial property workflows in volatile markets, yes. Live bid data, supplier feeds, and CPI tracking outperform annual modeled estimates whenever pricing is moving fast. For stable-market residential single-family appraisal where Marshall & Swift has decades of methodology authority and lender acceptance, the BidFlow database is a defensible second source, not a primary replacement.
How is buyer identity protected?
Aggregation is at zip3 (first three digits of zip code) before any number surfaces externally. No individual project, buyer, or supplier is ever identifiable from a database query. Buyer firms approve aggregation participation when they enroll in the BidFlow workspace.
What metros are covered?
Memphis, Houston, Cleveland, Atlanta, Boston, and the surrounding metros are covered today, with depth concentrated in mid-market commercial categories (TI, warehouse, multifamily, light industrial, healthcare buildout). Coverage extends continuously as RFP volume grows; applications tag your target metros so we can confirm coverage depth for your use case before you commit.
How does the API work?
REST API access is available on the highest tier. Endpoints include single-property lookups, regional median queries with confidence bands, supplier-feed snapshots, and CPI category tracking. Authentication is by API key issued at onboarding. Documentation is shared during the demo.
What does it cost?
Pricing is tiered by use case (single-property lookup, unlimited underwriting workflow, full API access) and scoped to firm volume and target metros. Approved applicants receive tier-specific pricing within one business day.
Why is access by application?
Two reasons. First, we want to ensure approved firms get the depth they need in their target metros. If your primary work is in a metro where we have not yet reached adequate awarded-bid coverage, we will be honest about that on the application call rather than overpromise. Second, the data is genuinely sensitive. Aggregation is at zip3 with strict participation rules; we vet applicant firms before granting access to protect the network. The current cohort is intentionally limited.
Apply for access
Closed beta. We review applications within one business day.