Highwire: What Contractors Need to Get Approved

What it is

Highwire is a contractor prequalification and safety platform. Clients and general contractors use it to assess a contractor's experience, safety record, finances and insurance before awarding work. You build one company profile and connect it to each client that asks you to prequalify.

Who asks for it

Project owners and general contractors that use Highwire, often on capital construction projects. Highwire names Skanska and Rosendin among its users. Its enrollment form has a separate option for when "a client or general contractor has instructed you to enroll."

Have this ready

From Highwire's U.S. Getting Started Checklist:

Company profile

• Federal Tax ID (EIN)
• Payment method (credit card or ACH)
• Contact info for key employees
• Total gross annual revenue and employee headcount
• W-9 (PDF)
• Certificate(s) of insurance (PDF)
• Disadvantaged business classifications and documentation, if applicable
• Five past projects showing experience and capabilities
• Letters of good standing for any union affiliations (PDF)

Safety assessment

• OSHA 300A forms, prior three years (PDF)
• OSHA 300 logs, prior three years (PDF)
• EMR (Experience Modification Rating) letters, prior three years (PDF)
• Safety manual(s) (PDF)

Finance assessment (only if your client requires it)

• Prior three years of year-end financial statements (PDF)
• Supplier, subcontractor and client references
• Banking and credit line references
• Any licensing complaints or litigation (PDF)
• Quarterly summary of work in progress and work not started
• Surety bond documentation, if applicable (PDF)

Steps

1. Go to highwire.com and click "Get Started," then "Begin Enrollment."
2. Enter your email, agree to the terms, and enter the verification code you receive.
3. Add your contact information, create a password, and fill in your business information.
4. Choose your enrollment type. Pick the first option if a client or general contractor told you to enroll. The other option is a free profile.
5. Select your business categories and trades.
6. Choose the client(s) you're prequalifying for.
7. Review your selected clients and the enrollment fee. You can get an invoice if you need one.
8. Check out and pay. Depending on your company's country, you can pay in USD, EUR or CHF.
9. Complete your company, safety, finance (if required) and insurance sections. Upload certificates on the Insurance tab under each client connection.
10. Check the Insurance tab's requirements column. It shows "Yes" or "No" for whether your certificate meets each client's criteria.

Costs and renewals

• Price: Highwire says contractor pricing "is determined by what assessments your client(s) require and the size of your business, as determined by your number of employees." No dollar amounts are posted. For pricing questions, contact the Assessments Team at assessments@highwire.com or +1 (866) 817-2210, ext. 3.
• Plans: *Individual Connection* (each client managed separately) or *Unlimited* (one annual fee covering an unlimited number of clients). If you switch to Unlimited, unused value from your current subscriptions is credited.
• Renewal: Subscriptions are annual and billed automatically. An admin can cancel under "Manage Subscription" to stop auto-renewal, or click "Renew" before expiration.
• Insurance reminders: Highwire emails you 14 days before a certificate expires.

Watch out for

• Per-client cost. On the Individual plan, each client connection is a separate subscription. Compare it with Unlimited if several clients use Highwire.
• Auto-renewal. Subscriptions renew automatically unless you cancel.
• Finance assessment. If a client requires it, you'll need three years of financial statements and bank references.
• Client-set insurance rules. Clients can set minimum limits, specific policy terms (such as "Claims Made") and expiration requirements. Get any "additional insured" wording from the client and give it to your agent word for word.
• Keep your COI current. Upload renewals before the 14-day reminder turns into an expired certificate.
• Support: +1 (866) 817-2210, support@highwire.com.

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Sources

• www.highwire.com/
• www.highwire.com/pricing
• help.highwire.com/hc/en-us/categories/360003798191-Contractors
• help.highwire.com/hc/en-us/articles/360048553951-How-does-my-company-enroll-with-Highwi
• help.highwire.com/hc/en-us/articles/360048554151-Annual-Subscription-Pricing-for-Contra
• help.highwire.com/hc/en-us/articles/360048477131-Getting-Started-Checklist-U-S-A
• help.highwire.com/hc/en-us/articles/9671148039444-How-do-I-manage-my-subscription
• help.highwire.com/hc/en-us/articles/35377808753812-What-is-an-Unlimited-Subscription
• help.highwire.com/hc/en-us/articles/360048804651-How-do-I-upload-my-Insurance-Certifica

FindMyBids isn't affiliated with this service. Requirements change and each client sets its own, so confirm with the service and the client.