Frequently Asked Questions

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Questions

How do I download the Plan Order / Info Proposal and Bidding Proposal Order Forms?

Can I view these forms online, without downloading them?
Why are the forms in two different formats?
Why do I get errors when I try to download the forms in .PDF format?

How do I download the Notice to Contractor's (NTC) Package?

What is included in the NTC package?
Is the NTC package available as a single printable document?

Can I view and download Plans from the website?

Can I view and download Proposals from the website?

Can I be included in the Plan Holders list with out ordering directly from the contracts office?

How do I install the EXPEDITE software?

What do I do with this software? 
Which versions of Windows will this work under?

How do I download the .ebl (Electronic Bidding) File?

What do I do with the .ebl file?
What do I do with the dbe_ne.bin file?

What do I do with the file I just downloaded?

What is a self-extracting zip file?
How do I use this file?
I used to be able to download the files and use them right away, why did you change this?

 Which version of Internet browser should I be using?

Does it matter if I use Netscape Navigator or Internet Explorer?
Where can I get the latest versions of Internet Explorer and Netscape Navigator?

Answers

Forms - Downloading and Viewing

Yes...We had removed the capability of viewing forms online because the process of viewing and printing the forms online was causing many problems for our users. This has been corrected using PDF files and a free viewer download from Adobe Acrobat.  We have also created a single file for you to download. This file contains BOTH the Word and PDF files for you to print out.

The easiest way to download these files is to simply click on the link and save the file to your hard drive. 

If you get errors while downloading, then do the following:

Move your mouse pointer over the link you want to download. Click the right mouse button and choose 'Save Target As' from the option list. You  will now be able to save the file to your hard drive.

Once you have downloaded the file to your hard drive, double click the icon and both the .DOC and the .PDF files will be extracted from the file you downloaded.

If you have Microsoft Word installed on your computer, the .doc files will open using Word. If the page does not display properly or will not open, check to see that you have a current version of Word installed on your computer.

  If you do not have Word, you can still view the forms by installing the current version of Adobe Acrobat Reader on your computer. When you are sure Acrobat Reader is installed in your machine, open the PDF file you downloaded and view/print the form using Acrobat Reader.

  If you get errors while trying to view the forms in PDF format, check to see that you have a current version of Acrobat Reader installed on your computer.

To check and see what version of software you are running, open the the program and go to the Help menu on the right hand side of the top menu bar. Click on About, a screen will popup which shows the version of software you are running. You need to have The latest Version of Adobe Reader.

Click here for more help and illustrations on Version Checking

NTC

The complete NTC package contains the following:

• Cover Letter

• All Notice to Contractors for the letting

• Ordering information 

• Plan and Informational Proposal Order Form

• Bidding Proposal Order Form

• Bid Rigging Information

• Website information

The NTC package is now available for downloading in one complete printable document. All you need is the latest version of Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your computer.

The easiest way to download these files is to simply click on the link and save the file to your hard drive. 

This change was made to accommodate the numerous requests from contractors that wanted a simple single file that they could print out.

Plans

Plans are currently available for downloading and viewing.  These are for informational purposes only.  In order to view the plans you must download the free MaxView plug-in first.  The MaxView reader link to install is located on the main letting page and any page related to viewing the plans.  Once the plug-in is installed you will be able to view plans on-line.  For plan ordering information download the Plan and Proposal Order forms from the Plan and Proposal Ordering page, and see the list of Plans and Proposals for each notice.

Proposals

Informational Proposals are currently available for downloading and viewing.  These are for informational purposes only.  The Proposals are in a PDF format and in order to view them you must download the free Adobe Reader.  The Acrobat Reader plug-in link to install is located on the main letting page and any page related to viewing the proposals.  Once the plug-in is installed you will be able to view proposals on-line.  For proposal ordering information download the Plan and Proposal Ordering Form from the Plan and Proposal Info page.

If you are not ordering Proposals from the Contracts Office, but would like to be included on the Plan Holders list, please go to the Plan Holders Registration page.  A link to the Plan Holders registration can be found by going to any page related to viewing or downloading proposals.

EBL File 

The EBL file is to be used in conjunction with EXPEDITE. The EBL file contains all the information you need to submit your bid electronically. 

To download the current EBL file, simply click on the link and save the file to your hard drive. Once the file has been downloaded to your machine, double click on the file and it will extract the .EBL file and the dbe_ne.bin file for you to use in your electronic bidding.

The dbe_ne.bin file contains current information on certified dbe's.  This file must be kept in the same directory that you keep the bidding files.  If it is not located in the same directory you will get an error message when you open up the bid file.   The message will say "Cannot open the dbe_ne.bin file".  T o correct this simply find the bin file and place it in the correct directory.

EXPEDITE Bidding Software

To download the installation program, click on the link and save the 'Setup.exe' program to your hard drive.

When download is complete, double click the Setup.exe program on your computer and follow the instructions on the screen to complete the installation.

EXPEDITE is a Windows based program and will work under any version of Windows. 

NOTE:

In order to use the EXPEDITE Bidding Software, you must know your Vendor number. If you do not know your Vendor Number, please call the NDOR Contract Lettings Department at(402) 479-4525.

To start using EXPEDITE, double click on the Bid.exe program. This program will be located where you installed EXPEDITE. (The default is on your C:\ drive in a folder called Expedite) After you double click on Bid.exe, open the .ebl file and you can begin to fill in the bidding data. When you are done, don't forget to save your files. 

You may download the install/downloading documentation files for Expedite here.

Self-extracting Zip files

A self-extracting file is a type of Zip file that you can extract from without actually using PKZIP for Windows. In fact, you don’t even need PKZIP for Windows installed on your computer. This self-extracting file contains “unzipping” instructions directly in the .EXE file.

Once you have completed the download, just double click on the .EXE file you downloaded. After double clicking, the software takes over and creates the files you wanted. The files that the self-extractor creates will be stored in the same location as the file you double clicked on.

All files have been placed in self-extracting Zip files because the self-extractor compresses the files and will improve the speed of your downloads. (Smaller files download faster) The change was also made because some older browsers were having problems downloading the files in their raw form. This should not only eliminate those problems, but improve your overall download time.

Browser Questions

The Nebraska Department of Roads website supports both Microsoft Internet Explorer and Netscape Navigator. It is recommended that you are using the most current version of either software package available. Advances in Internet Browser technology have allowed for more dynamic content to be posted in the World Wide Web, and by updating to the latest versions of browser you will gain a better appreciation for the Internet.

Experience has shown that most problems encountered by users of the NDOR web site could have been avoided had the users been accessing our site with the most current versions of Internet Explorer or Netscape Navigator.

To get the latest version of Internet Explorer or Netscape Navigator, please follow the links below.

 Click here for more help and illustrations on Version Checking

Internet Explorer is recommended to view this site.  Please make sure you download the latest version of Acrobat Reader, and upgrade your browser of choice regularly, or portions of this site may not be accessible.