📋 Requirements
Before creating a bid request/ request for quotes , make sure:
You have access to the Estimates module
Your estimate includes the line items you want to request bids for
Your subcontractors/vendors credentials are already added to your Buildern account
Create a Bid Request from an Estimate
Follow the steps below to get started with bid request/ request for quote directly from your estimate:
Go to your project
Navigate to the Estimates module
Open the relevant estimate
Bid Request Creation Options
ℹ️ Note - Each item can be used in only one bid request at a time. If a bid request is rejected, those items become available again for selection.
Select the items that you want to add to an Estimate. Once your items are selected, you can create a bid request using one of the following methods:
Option 1: Bulk Actions (for multiple items)
Click the ➕ (Plus) button in the bottom toolbar
Select Bid Request / Request for Quote
Option 2: From an individual item (for single-item requests)
Edit the estimate item (click the triple dots > Edit)
Scroll down to the Bid Request section
Click Create Bid Request
From here, choose one of the following:
Create new bid request – Creates a new bid request using this item
Add to existing bid request – Adds the item to an already created bid request
ℹ️ Note - This option is recommended because it allows you to create a bid request directly from an existing estimate item, ensuring that all key information is automatically transferred. When using this workflow, details such as the line item name, description, quantity, and pricing are prefilled, eliminating the need for manual entry.
Buildern follows a data recycling approach, meaning the same line item is reused across different processes like bid requests, purchase orders, and subcontracts. This helps maintain consistency throughout the project, reduces errors, and ensures that all financial data remains aligned from estimation to execution.
Configure Bid Request Details
After creating the bid request, review and complete the required details such as selecting subcontractors, setting dates, adding descriptions, attachments, and terms.
👉 Learn more about How to Create and Send a Bid Request/ Request for Quote in Buildern
Once everything is ready:
Click Save to continue later
Click Send to notify vendors
Next, we’ll dive deeper into additional features that support your workflow.
Happy Building!