Create a Sub-quote Request

As a prime contractor in the Bid Express Small Business Network® service, you can request sub-quotes from subcontractors. You can do this from the Small Business Network tab or when viewing the proposal details on the Lettings tab.

To create a sub-quote request:

  1. Access the proposal details or open the Small Business Network tab.

  2. On the proposal details, click Create Sub-quote Request.  On the Small Business Network tab, click create new. Both options open the Header Information page of the Create SBN Sub-quote Request process.

  3. Verify the header information in the fields.

  4. Click in the Expiration field to open a calendar.  Navigate to and select the date for how long this request is valid. The request will expire right before midnight on the selected date.

  5. After you enter an expiration date, the Bid Express SBN displays a response status message. If you want to receive an update status on the responses to your sub-quote request, select the notification check box and enter the number of days before the expiration date that you wish to receive the message.  The number must be greater than zero. The Bid Express SBN will send you an email stating how many contractors have read or replied to the request, and how many agency-sponsored contractors did not read the request. The email also includes a link to view the sub-quote request.

  6. The DBE Preferred check box is automatically selected.  Clear this check box if you do not have a preference for a DBE.

  7. Select any additional costs to be included in the request.

  8. Enter any comments in the Comments field.

  9. When everything is entered, click save draft to remain on the Header Information page.  Click save and continue to go to the Select Letting page or the Select Work Types and Items page (Step 11) if you created your sub-quote request on the proposal details page. The header information you entered displays at the top of each page for the sub-quote request.

  10. On the Select Letting page, click Select this letting to choose the letting for which you are creating the sub-quote request. You can click the letting date to see details about the letting. After you select the letting, the Bid Express SBN goes to the Select Proposal page. You will not see this page if you created your sub-quote from the proposal details page.

  11. Select the proposal for which you are creating the sub-quote request. The Bid Express SBN goes to the Select Work Types and Items page.

  12. On the Select Work Types and Items page, click Add Work Types to display the list of work types for the sub-quote request.

  13. Select the check box for the work types used in the sub-quote request. You can use the filter to find a specific work type.  Enter the work type in the Filter Work Types field. The Bid Express Small Business Network searches the work types as you type.

  14. Once all the work types are selected, click add selected.

  15. Add items to your work type by selecting Add Items.  The Bid Express SBN opens the Add Items window.

  16. Select the check boxes of the items to add to the work type. You can use the filter to find specific items. When you are finished, click add selected.

  17. You can delete any work type or item that was added in error by clicking the X beside the specific work type or item.

  18. Repeat the steps for adding items for your remaining work types. All work types must have at least one item or they will not be saved. When all items have been added, click save draft or save and continue. If you click save and continue, the Bid Express SBN brings you to the Terms and Conditions page.

  19. Enter any terms or conditions regarding the sub-quote request in the available space. When you are finished, click save draft or save and continue. If you click save and continue, the Bid Express SBN brings you to the Attachments page.

  20. Click Upload/Manage attachments to add any attachments to your request.  The Bid Express SBN opens the Manage Attachment for Sub-quote Request page.

  21. If you want to add any attachments, click browse.  Navigate to and select the file in the Select Files window.  Click open.

  22. Add more files by clicking browse and selecting the file. When you are finished, click upload. When the attachments are uploaded, click done. The Bid Express service returns you to the Attachments page.  

  23. Click save and continue. The Bid Express SBN goes to the Verify and Publish Request page.

  24. Review your request.  If you need to make changes, click back at the bottom of the page until you reach the page that needs updating.   

You can publish your request when it is ready to go by clicking publish at the end of the Create Request process. Also, you can click cancel on the Verify and Publish Request form or click SBN Landing Page in the navigation trail to return to the Prime Contractor View without publishing the request.

If you publish your request, the Bid Express® service returns you to the Small Business Network tab and displays your published sub-quote.  The request will now be visible to the Bid Express Small Business Network subcontractors.  Subcontractors who selected work types that appear in your request are sent an email notification that their work types are in a request.  

Click one of the following topics for more information:

Edit a Sub-quote Request

Withdraw and Republish a Sub-quote Request