--- title: Bid Request Overview description: In this section, you will learn how to create and send out Bid Requests to your Vendors --- [Skip to content](https://help.ressiosoftware.com/bid-management-overview#main-content) English Show submenu for translations [Contact us](https://help.ressiosoftware.com/kb-tickets/new?hsLang=en) ![Untitled design (22)](https://43531900.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hub/43531900/hubfs/Untitled%20design%20(22).png?width=75&height=75&name=Untitled%20design%20(22).png) Open main navigation Close main navigation - English Show submenu for translations - [Contact us](https://help.ressiosoftware.com/kb-tickets/new) - [Go to ressiosoftware.com](https://www.ressiosoftware.com/) [Go to ressiosoftware.com](https://www.ressiosoftware.com/) Hello. How can we help? - There are no suggestions because the search field is empty. 1. [Ressio Knowledge Base](https://help.ressiosoftware.com/?hsLang=en) 2. [Feature guides](https://help.ressiosoftware.com/feature-guides?hsLang=en) 3. [Bid Management](https://help.ressiosoftware.com/feature-guides?hsLang=en#bid-management) # Bid Request Overview ## In this article, you will learn how to create, send, edit, release and unrelease bids to your vendors. Bid Requests in Ressio allow builders to request pricing from vendors directly from their estimate. This feature helps you manage the entire bid process in one place, including sending requests, tracking vendor responses, making updates, and approving final pricing. **With Bid Requests, you can:** • Select specific line items from your estimate • Send bid invitations to one or multiple vendors • Add instructions, attachments, and terms • Update vendors even after a bid has been released • Track submissions and maintain bid history • Approve accepted bids directly into your estimate Ressio keeps a clear record of submissions, preserves vendor history, and ensures that approved bid amounts automatically update your estimate. --- #### **Table of Contents** 1. [Understanding Bid Requests in Construction](https://help.ressiosoftware.com/bid-management-overview#Benefits) 2. [Creating, Sending and Receiving Bid Requests](https://help.ressiosoftware.com/bid-management-overview#Sending-Bids) 3. [Updating a Released Bid Request](https://help.ressiosoftware.com/bid-management-overview#updating) 4. [Editing and Unreleasing Bid Requests](https://help.ressiosoftware.com/bid-management-overview#editing-and-unreleasing) 5. [View and Use Past Bid Requests](https://help.ressiosoftware.com/bid-management-overview#view-and-use-past) 6. [Reviewing and Approving Bid Responses](https://help.ressiosoftware.com/bid-management-overview#Reviewing-Approving-Bids) 7. [How It Works for Vendors](https://help.ressiosoftware.com/bid-management-overview#how-it-works) 8. [Alternate Approval Methods](https://help.ressiosoftware.com/bid-management-overview#how-it-works) --- #### **Understanding Bid Requests in Construction** Ressio's bid management feature allows builders to send requests to vendors for quotes, to manage the bid process, communicate, and update project pricing. Check out the bid feature overview in the video below! --- #### **Creating, Sending, and Receiving Bid Requests** Navigate to your estimate within Ressio, click on the checkboxes next to the line items you wish to include in the bid request, click **Create**, snd then select **Bid Request.** ![ezgif.com-video-to-gif-converter (1)-1](https://43531900.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hub/43531900/hubfs/ezgif.com-video-to-gif-converter%20(1)-1.gif?width=670&height=378&name=ezgif.com-video-to-gif-converter%20(1)-1.gif) From here, you can add any relevant information such as descriptions, terms and conditions, attachments, instructions, and messages for the vendors.  You can also refresh line items before previewing while your bid is still in draft. Before releasing hit the "**Refresh preview from estimate**". It is located in the '**Cost Items**' section of your bid.  ![](https://43531900.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hub/43531900/hubfs/undefined-Mar-02-2026-05-02-36-1463-PM.png?width=395&height=282&name=undefined-Mar-02-2026-05-02-36-1463-PM.png) Select the Vendor(s) you would like to send the bid to. Then, click **Save** and **Release**. [\[back to top\]](https://help.ressiosoftware.com/bid-management-overview#back-to-top) --- #### Updating a Released Bid Request **Adding and Removing Vendors After Release** You can still add and remove vendor after a release. Find the bid request that you need to edit. Use the **Select vendors** drop down to add or remove vendors even after releasing the bid. The system automatically updates pending vendor notifications **if it is still in draft**. You can also hit the '**x**' next to the vendor name to remove.  ![](https://43531900.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hub/43531900/hubfs/undefined-Mar-02-2026-05-28-25-2887-PM.png?width=425&height=239&name=undefined-Mar-02-2026-05-28-25-2887-PM.png) When you do add or remove a vendor after it has been released, make sure to hit the '**Save'** button when you are complete making changes.  ![](https://usercontent.us.prod.clueso.io/21a483d2-7875-446b-939d-2666093fd4d7/242aa15d-a0e3-42a0-8d27-4c32f316c9f8/878ad08f-0999-4b53-8b02-afb4f3a183d8/images/dc055ed5-d943-4611-bcab-eebbf20bb45a.gif) A window will pop up with a review of changes. After reviewing you hit '**Confirm**'. You also have the option of notifying the vendor or not by checking the box. ![](https://usercontent.us.prod.clueso.io/21a483d2-7875-446b-939d-2666093fd4d7/242aa15d-a0e3-42a0-8d27-4c32f316c9f8/878ad08f-0999-4b53-8b02-afb4f3a183d8/images/2f53c376-b842-45b5-b7b9-3f4e0d9bbdfc.png)   💡 Vendors who already '***Submitted* '**(or previously *Declined/Canceled*) keep that old record as history. New vendors receive an email, while removing a vendor cancels their submission and notifies them accordingly. ❗No need to unrelease or recreate the bid when adjusting vendors. 🗒️ While the bid is still '***in-progress***', only ***newly added*** vendors get a new *Pending/Draft* bid; removed vendors’ get canceled. [\[back to top\]](https://help.ressiosoftware.com/bid-management-overview#back-to-top) --- #### Editing and Unreleasing Bid Requests Unrelease a bid request to make changes to the scope of work or estimate data. Ressio tracks and preserves existing submissions. - Submitted or declined bids generate new pending submissions for vendors. - Pending vendors see their bid requests updated with the latest changes; no need to resubmit. ![](https://usercontent.us.prod.clueso.io/21a483d2-7875-446b-939d-2666093fd4d7/242aa15d-a0e3-42a0-8d27-4c32f316c9f8/878ad08f-0999-4b53-8b02-afb4f3a183d8/images/7fa3c5cd-e33c-42cd-9952-1c8be042e7ee.gif) When you have unreleased the bid, you can add instructions, change the title, add/remove vendors and make changes to the estimate. Updates from the estimate automatically reflect in the bid once unreleased. Use the **'Refresh preview from estimate'** to make sure. ![](https://usercontent.us.prod.clueso.io/21a483d2-7875-446b-939d-2666093fd4d7/242aa15d-a0e3-42a0-8d27-4c32f316c9f8/878ad08f-0999-4b53-8b02-afb4f3a183d8/images/829a3320-f72b-4ae0-84c2-a8739dca7e36.gif) After reviewing changes, hit '**Save**' and then '**Release**' again when ready. [\[back to top\]](https://help.ressiosoftware.com/bid-management-overview#back-to-top) --- #### View and Use Past Bid Submissions View canceled and newly generated bids in a dropdown tray under each bid request. Under 'Bid Submissions', scroll down and you can expand the list that says "**View past submission**". You will find any canceled or pending submissions associated with that bid. ![](https://usercontent.us.prod.clueso.io/21a483d2-7875-446b-939d-2666093fd4d7/242aa15d-a0e3-42a0-8d27-4c32f316c9f8/878ad08f-0999-4b53-8b02-afb4f3a183d8/images/72fea534-48ac-40da-842c-d4be1893a55b.gif) From here you can also approve past submissions if their information remains relevant, ensuring an efficient process without data loss. ![](https://usercontent.us.prod.clueso.io/21a483d2-7875-446b-939d-2666093fd4d7/242aa15d-a0e3-42a0-8d27-4c32f316c9f8/878ad08f-0999-4b53-8b02-afb4f3a183d8/images/3839bfe3-d62a-4a46-b832-2f2a6689d815.gif) ![](https://usercontent.us.prod.clueso.io/21a483d2-7875-446b-939d-2666093fd4d7/242aa15d-a0e3-42a0-8d27-4c32f316c9f8/878ad08f-0999-4b53-8b02-afb4f3a183d8/images/e0b2ea2a-42a1-4d9d-bfa4-41227460b42c.png) After making changes and before you hit '**Accept**', you have the option of checking or unchecking wether you want to: - Update cost items with bid prices? - Notify accepted vendor via email? - Notify vendors of bid closure via email? [\[back-to-top\]](https://help.ressiosoftware.com/bid-management-overview#back-to-top) --- #### **Reviewing and Approving Bid Responses** To check on Vendor responses, navigate to the **Bid Request** tab within the **Approvals** section. Select **Review** and then **Approve**. ![AcceptingaBidFromaVendor-ezgif.com-video-to-gif-converter](https://43531900.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hub/43531900/hubfs/AcceptingaBidFromaVendor-ezgif.com-video-to-gif-converter.gif?width=670&height=377&name=AcceptingaBidFromaVendor-ezgif.com-video-to-gif-converter.gif) Once a Bid is approved, the amount in the estimate gets replaced with the approved amount. The Vendor name gets added to the line item in the vendor column of the estimate.   📹 To watch a video on how to add/remove vendors and edit a released bid, watch "[Bids Workflow Enhancement](https://youtu.be/nxh7eHHlHkQ?si=c7xbuzYxMz4HwFH1)". [\[back to top\]](https://help.ressiosoftware.com/bid-management-overview#back-to-top) ---   #### How It Works for Vendors: 1\. Vendor fills out the bid while it’s still in a “**pending/draft**” state. 2\. When the vendor clicks **Submit**, the bid moves to “submitted” and locks (no more editing in the bid itself). 3\. The contractor can then **Accept** or **Decline** that submitted bid. 🗒️ If the contractor needs changes from the vendor, the workflow is to re-release the **Bid Request** so the vendor can submit a new bid (the old submitted bid stays as history). [\[back to top\]](https://help.ressiosoftware.com/bid-management-overview#back-to-top)   ---   #### **Alternate Approval Methods** If vendors provide bid responses outside of Ressio, access the **Bid Request** tab in the **Approvals** section. Review the desired bid, enter the accepted amount for each line item, select **Save**, **Submit,** and then **Approve**. ![AcceptingaBidforaVendor-ezgif.com-video-to-gif-converter](https://43531900.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hub/43531900/hubfs/AcceptingaBidforaVendor-ezgif.com-video-to-gif-converter.gif?width=670&height=378&name=AcceptingaBidforaVendor-ezgif.com-video-to-gif-converter.gif) [\[back to top\]](https://help.ressiosoftware.com/bid-management-overview#back-to-top) --- If you have any questions or need further assistance, contact our support team at **support@ressiosoftware.com**. 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