BOSTON--JM Coull, a New England based construction management and design build firm, was honored this month with a 2009 Vision Award from Constructech magazine.  JM Coull’s” eBid” system of  electronically soliciting subcontractor bids garnered the prestigious award, which recognizes innovative technologies and their application to everyday business.

By customizing a software package produced by eBid Systems, JM Coull reduced the cost of the bidding process by 93 percent in one year and cut production time from a full day to less than an hour. The environmental impact of the bidding process was dramatically reduced by eliminating shipping and enabling contracting firms to view drawings electronically and print only the plans they need.

The electronic bidding system has tangible benefits that JM Coull passes along to its customers.

“Our ebid system enables us to maintain current information on an extensive database of prequalified subcontractors. By bidding electronically, we can increase participation and generate more competitive pricing for our clients. The time we save in preparing bid packages is used to delve more deeply into the project, challenging our assumptions and making sure we have covered all aspects of the client’s needs,” said JM Coull president, Andrew Coull.

The national Constructech Vision Award program is open to any company involved in residential, commercial and heavy construction; professionals in all trades; architectural and engineering firms; corporate owners; facility management companies; government agencies; and land developers.

“In today’s market, construction companies must face new challenges head on and bring customers the most affordable, quality product they can. This goal can be achieved with the use of the right technology solutions,” said Mike Carrozzo, chief editor of Constructech. “The companies named as Vision Award winners recognize this necessity and have become more successful as a result of implementing technology.”

Robert Hennessey, chief executive officer of JM Coull, accepted the silver-level award at a special ceremony held during the fourth annual Technology Day conference in Chicago, Ill.

The honorees exemplify “the definition of ‘excellence’ in the construction industry,” said Peggy Smedley, editorial director of Constructech. JM Coull’s success story is highlighted alongside fellow award winners in the October and November issues of Constructech.