Header Bid Factors vs. Line Bid Factors

Header bid factors relate to the overall event, whereas line bid factors relate only to the specific line.

Header bid factors cover the entire event. For example:

• Is this a minority-owned or woman-owned business?

• In what state is the corporate headquarters located?

• Is the company ISO certified?

Because for any bid factor you can change such variables as the range for best and worst responses, the ideal response, and bid factor weighting, you can use the same bid factor for the event and for one or more line items. This ensures accurate weighting and responses.

Line bid factors can be set for individual lines. For example:

• For a sale of sporting goods, color might be an important factor.

  You can set different colors or weightings for a color list bid factor on the line item for tents, backpacks, and hiking boots.

• You can set ideals and weightings that, for the line item, differ from the same bid factor set in the header.

  For example, suppose that on the header you set a delivery bid factor, with an ideal delivery time of four weeks. You can set, on a line item, a delivery bid factor with an ideal delivery time of six weeks.