Searching in Bids & RFPs

This article will guide you in running a bid search and reviewing an RFP.

For general information on creating searches, click here.

Reviewing Results

1. Once you are done making changes to your search, the ‘RESULTS’ section will detail every bid that matches your search. By default, this will display open bids, starting with the bids that close soonest.

Pro Tip: Some bids may be more detailed than others. Bids that have associated ‘Files’ typically have more information than ones that do not.

Viewing Bid Details

Opening a Bid

2. Click on the link under the 'Description' column to open the bid. You will then be taken into the bid. Information may include purchasing details, contact information, files, and more.

3. After opening the bid, information regarding the bid including the title, posted date, due date, and any categorization codes used by the agency will be displayed above the details.

Please note: Information varies greatly between bids. Since we collect bids directly from the source, each agency will format its bids differently. We do not manipulate this data, but we will provide as much available information as possible. We also provide a link to attachments for any bid that contains them.

4. The 'Details' tab will display any text provided by the agency regarding the bid. Common items here include a description of what they are looking to purchase, any required steps to submit a proposal, a main point of contact from the agency, and more.

5. The 'Files' tab will display the latest documents that the agency provided for that bid. These files can be downloaded to your computer and can be extremely helpful when deciding whether to submit a proposal.

6. The 'Historical Files tab shows the full list of files over time that have been provided for that bid. The date the document was added is displayed and the documents are sorted from most recent to least recent. Sometimes the Files tab and Historical Files tab may be the same if all documents are still the latest versions for that bid. Refer to the Historical Files tab for a full history of files available for that bid.

7. The 'History' tab will display any amendments or changes to the particular bid. Reviewing this tab is recommended, as the agency may have provided new information such as updated due dates, details about the requested product or service, or files associated with the bid. Any new changes will be indicated in green, and outdated information will be displayed in red.

Lists, Tasks, Notes, & Tags

6. Towards the top right of the bid, four buttons will be displayed: Lists, Tasks, Notes, and Tags. Click on any of these buttons to open a new menu.

7. In this new menu, you can choose to add this bid to a list, assign yourself a task, add any notes you need about the bid, and tag the bid if needed.