Conventional tendering involves receiving, checking, copying, and distributing processes which are implemented based on paper-based. The approach remains predominant in developing countries such as Malaysia [24, 40], Nigeria [41], and Oman [42]. Strong emphasize on the need of ICT in Malaysian construction tendering were discussed by Lou and Syed Alwee [43] and Mastura et al. [44] through their analysis according to Technology Readiness Index. However, until now the real-world implementation of Web-based technology in Malaysian construction tendering faced the biggest challenge to realism. Fig. 1 summarizes the general tendering processes according client, consultant and contractor perspectives. Most countries in different region such as United States, Europe, Middle East and Asia have similar execution of tendering. 

The process starts when the client initializes a construction project. Client hires consultant to prepare tender specification by conducting feasibility study. It involves typical activities such as determining estimated cost, time for project completion and procurement procedures. Consultant also responsible to prepare tender documents including qualification documents and bill of quantities. These documents require an approval from client. In order to ensure fair competition and transparency, it is compulsory for client to display notice call for tender invitation. Normally, client advertises the notice within a period of time on printed media such as newspaper, public media or website. Construction tendering procedures under European Union legislation requires a notice to be displayed in the official Journal of the European Commission [26]. Meanwhile in Nigeria, contractors are invited for tender submission through advertisement in major national publications [41]. The procedure also known as Request for Tender (RFT), Notice to Bidders or Invitation to Tender (ITT). Subsequently, contractor who intends to bid for the tender will purchase the tender documents and give appropriate information required, and then submits the completed tender before reaching the deadline. Normally, tender documents consist of information regarding on instruction to tenderers, conditions of contract, technical specifications, drawings, bill of quantities (BQ) and list of forms to be completed by the contractor. All the submitted tenders will be aggregated and opened after the deadline. All the tenders received will be assessed in order to select the most eligible contractor. Assessment is the most crucial stage in tendering processes because it contributes to the decision in choosing the most qualified contractor to win the tender. It is an unstructured and complex process where multi criteria need to be considered during assessment such as bid price, time for project completion, financial capability, work experience, technical staff available, equipment facilities and current list of works. These criteria contribute to identify potential contractor that capable to deliver high quality of completed service, within time and under budget allocated [28]. Usually, the assessment is carried out by the group of appointed committees. This task is under responsibility of client or his representative and tender administration committee as practices in China [45]. There are two stages of assessment before qualified contractors will be listed out. The first stage of evaluation is the prequalified stage for contractors where they are primarily evaluated for their minimum capabilities to satisfactorily carry out the contract if they are awarded [11]. In this paper, we called this stage as prequalification phase. This stage helps to screen out ineligible or unsuitable candidates thus minimizing the amount of available contractors in the list. Different countries or organizations might evaluate dissimilar criteria. For example, in Hong Kong and Malaysia, the criteria for the first stage evaluation are based on basic requirements specified in tender notification or advertisement such as sufficiency of tender documents submitted (compulsory and supporting documents), consistency of information provided, adequate financial resources and others. It is different in other countries practices like in Turkey and Nigeria where their first evaluation are based on detailed technical evaluation. Contractors who have passed these requirements according to certain standard value will be preceded to the next stage of evaluation. The second stage of evaluation normally comprises a detailed technical evaluation of prequalified candidates. For instance, in Hong Kong and Malaysia, contractors are evaluated according to critical criteria such as such as working experience, current work performance, technical staff, plant and equipment as well as estimated project duration. There are some evaluations practices only consider on the lowest bidding price as implemented in Nigeria and Turkey. The qualified applicants who have fulfilled all the requirements and conditions are ranked in ascending order according to their points/credits. Contractors who do not fulfil any stage of evaluation will be automatically removed from the list. Finally, the result will be announced by client and display it either on printed media or website. Generally, the construction contract is awarded to the contractor with the highest score. 