What it is
TCLI Concrete Estimating Software, called Estimating Link, helps concrete and heavy civil contractors prepare unit price and lump sum bids for infrastructure projects. Bids can include project overhead, bond costs, corporate overhead, and profit. Users can store and reuse estimates, rates, crews, assemblies, templates, catalogs, vendors, and customers. Production costing supports rate analysis, customizable crews, and labor, equipment, rental, material, subcontract, and miscellaneous rate libraries. Check Bid reviews estimates for possible errors and reports them. The software imports state DOT proposal items and exports completed projects to DOT electronic bidding platforms. It connects with Field Link for jobsite production tracking and Billing Link for progress billing, and TCLI says it exports data to accounting, field tracking, and project management systems. Estimating Link is available as a desktop application or as a cloud-hosted service through Cloud Link. Desktop installation requires Windows 10 Pro or Windows 11 Pro and at least one available license in User Management Link. TCLI offers a free, no-obligation test drive, U.S.-based phone and email support, onboarding, and virtual training. Pricing starts at $166 a month.
Who it suits. It is designed for heavy civil contractors, including concrete, highway, utility, excavation, paving, and site development businesses. Contractors preparing unit price or lump sum infrastructure bids may find its DOT workflows relevant.
Good
- Supports unit price and lump sum bids.
- Stores reusable crews, rates, and templates.
- Imports state DOT proposal items.
- Offers phone and email support with training.
Watch for
- Desktop installation requires Windows 10 Pro or Windows 11 Pro.
- Desktop setup requires an available license.
- Pricing is provided by quote.
Verdict
Estimating Link focuses on bid preparation and production costing for heavy civil contractors, with DOT item handling and related field and billing products. Choose desktop or Cloud Link deployment and confirm license availability and quoted pricing.
Plans and prices
| Plan | Price | Billed |
|---|---|---|
| Estimating Link | — | Monthly or annual options; quote required |
From TCLI Concrete Estimating Software's own pricing page, checked 29 Sept 2026. Every plan
What the maker publishes
- Bid checks
- Its Check Bid feature checks estimates for possible errors and reports them to the user. source
- Bid formats
- The software supports unit price and lump sum bidding, with project overhead, bond costs, corporate overhead, and profit added to bids. source
- Cost databases
- Users can store and reuse estimates, rates, crews, assemblies, templates, catalogs, vendors, and customers. source
- Deployment
- Estimating Link is offered as a desktop application or as a cloud-hosted solution through Cloud Link. source
- DOT integration
- Estimating Link imports state DOT proposal items and exports completed projects to DOT electronic bidding platforms. source
- External integrations
- TCLI says Estimating Link exports data to accounting, field tracking, and project management systems. source
- Founded
- 1986 source
- Headquarters
- Geneva, New York, United States source
- Intended users
- The software is designed for heavy civil contractors, including concrete, highway, utility, excavation, paving, and site development businesses. source
- Notable license detail
- The desktop installation requires at least one available license in User Management Link. source
- Platform requirement
- The desktop installation instructions list Windows 10 Pro or Windows 11 Pro as prerequisites. source
- Production costing
- Estimating Link supports production rate analysis, customizable crews, and labor, equipment, rental, material, subcontract, and miscellaneous rate libraries. source
- Purpose
- Estimating Link helps concrete and heavy civil contractors prepare unit price and lump sum bids for infrastructure projects. source
- Related products
- Estimating Link connects with Field Link for jobsite production tracking and Billing Link for progress billing. source
- Security and backups
- TCLI says customer data is protected with Microsoft-powered security and automatic cloud or local backups. source
- Support and training
- TCLI offers U.S.-based phone and email support, onboarding, personalized virtual training, and Knowledge Link resources. source
- Trial
- TCLI offers a free, no-obligation test drive and says it can transfer a user's work if they proceed. source