Create or Edit a Sub-quote Request Reply

You can reply to contractor's sub-quote requests in the Bid Express Small Business Network® service. In the Subcontractor View of the SBN tab, click Reply for the request. The Bid Express® service goes to the Reply to SBN Sub-quote Request page.

You have the option of downloading a CSV file of the request to enter the response in a spreadsheet program, or you can enter it in the Bid Express Small Business Network.  

You can modify your request as often as you like until the request has expired. The contractor will be able to see every request, but can only respond to the final one.

CSV File

You can download a CSV file of the request information, enter your values in a spreadsheet program, and then upload your file back to the Bid Express Small Business Network.

To download the file:

  1. Go to the Bid Express Small Business Network and select the request to which you are responding.  The Bid Express services goes to the Reply to SBN Sub-quote Request page.

  2. Click Download Request CSV, located under the Comments field.

  3. Open or save the file.

  4. Enter your values for the requested items.  Include any comments if necessary.

  5. Delete any work types or items to which you are not responding. Your bid will not be uploaded if there are items without prices.

  6. Save the file.

When the file is finished and ready to be uploaded:

  1. Go to the Bid Express Small Business Network and select the request to which you are responding.  The Bid Express services goes to the Reply to SBN Sub-quote Request page.

  2. Click browse next to the Upload CSV field.  The Bid Express service opens the Choose File to Upload window.

  3. Navigate to and select the CSV file containing your response.

  4. Click open.

  5. Click save and continue.

To finish your sub-quote response, continue following the instructions at Step 9 in the Reply to Sub-quote Request section.

Reply to Sub-quote Request

Follow these instructions to complete your reply using the Bid Express SBN service:

  1. Go to the Bid Express Small Business Network and select Reply for the request to which you are responding.  The Bid Express services goes to the Reply to SBN Sub-quote Request page.

  2. Verify the header information in the fields.

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

  4. Select any additional costs to be included in the quote.

  5. When everything is entered, click save draft to remain on the Header Information page or click save and continue to go to the Select Letting page. The header information you entered displays at the top of each page for the sub-quote.

  6. Select the check boxes of the items to add to your response. You can bid on both solicited items and unsolicited items. Unsolicited items are displayed as a work type when the prime views the response.

  7. Add your price for each item. You can also change the quantities and add any comments.

  8. 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.

  9. Enter any terms or conditions regarding the sub-quote 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.

  10. Click Upload/Manage attachments to add any attachments to your quote.  The Bid Express SBN opens the Manage Attachment for Sub-quote Request page. If you want to add any attachments, click browse.  Navigate to and select the file in the Select Files window.  Click open.

  11. 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.  

  12. Click save and continue. The Bid Express SBN goes to the Verify and Reply to Sub-quote Request page.

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

  14. Click delete to erase your reply. Click notify to send your response to the contractor. Once you click notify, you cannot change or withdraw your response. Click cancel to return to the list of sub-quote requests without notifying the contractor. You can also make edits to your draft at a later time.

Once you click notify, the prime contractor can see your response and it cannot be changed or withdrawn. If you need to make changes, you will have to create a new response. If you click cancel, you will be able to edit it.  

Edit your Sub-quote Request Response

You can edit your sub-quote request response provided you did not send the contractor notification. If you've already notified the contractor, go to the Bid Express Small Business Network and select Create Reply.  Create a new response with the updated information.  The contractor will be able to reply only to the new response.

If you have not yet sent your response, go to the Bid Express Small Business Network and select Edit Draft for the request to which you are responding.  The Bid Express services goes to the Reply to SBN Sub-quote Request page.

Use the save and continue buttons to access the pages that need changing.

Change the reply by highlighting the incorrect information and entering in the new values.

When you are finished, click notify to send your response to the contractor. Once you click notify, you cannot change or withdraw your response. Click cancel to return to the list of sub-quote requests without notifying the contractor.