What subcontractors see
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Every invitation email carries the subcontractor’s own link to a quote page. They do not need a SmarteBuild login, and they do not see your other bidders or your prices.
Knowing what they see makes it much easier to help them when they ring.
The link
Section titled “The link”The link sits at the end of your invitation, under Price this tender online - no login needed. Each subcontractor’s link is their own: it opens their invitation and nobody else’s, so forwarding it never shows anyone your other bids.
To put the link somewhere else in your message, type $QuoteLink$ where you want it. If
your message already has it, it is not added a second time.
What the page shows them
Section titled “What the page shows them”| They see | Which is |
|---|---|
| Builder Details | Your company, and the name, email and phone of whoever sent the tender |
| Job Detail | The project name, code and site address, and the date the tender went out |
| The items | Every item in the tender, with the unit, your quantity and any note you added |
| The files | The drawings and documents you attached to the tender |
They do not see who else was invited, what anyone else has quoted, your budget, or anything about the rest of your job.
What they fill in
Section titled “What they fill in”| Field | What it is |
|---|---|
| Quote Name | Starts as your tender’s name; they can change it |
| Quote Number | Their own reference |
| Quote Date | The date of their price - today unless they change it |
| QTY | Filled in with your quantity. They can change it if they measure differently |
| Price Each (ex. GST) | Their unit price for each item |
Then Submit Quote. The price arrives against your tender straight away.
After they submit
Section titled “After they submit”Submitted prices lock. From there they can:
- Add file - attach their own quote on their letterhead. It works once the prices are submitted.
- Edit Quote - unlock the prices and change them. Submitting again updates the same quote; it does not create a second one.
Not Interested tells you they will not be pricing. They can change their mind with Edit Quote.
Two ways they can price
Section titled “Two ways they can price”Against your items. This is the one you want - it comes back line by line against your bill, and comparison is mechanical.
As their own document. Perfectly valid, and what many subcontractors do regardless. The page still needs submitting before Add file works, so if they are only sending a document, a price of 0 against items they have not broken down is fine. You will see those zeros flagged when you compare.
Most will do both if you ask - price your items and attach their own quote as well. That is the ideal outcome: comparable numbers, plus their conditions.
Helping them through it
Section titled “Helping them through it”The calls you will get, and the answers:
“I cannot find the link.” It is at the bottom of the invitation email. Resend the invitation rather than trying to talk them through their mailbox.
“Can I just email you a price?” Yes, and record it in Quotes Received - but ask them to use the page if they can, because it keeps the trail on the job.
“There is an item I do not do.” Tell them to put 0 and note it in their own quote. Better an honest gap you can see than a guessed price you cannot.
“Your quantities look wrong.” Ask which item and check it. Either you have found an error in your bill before it went into a tender price, or they have misread the drawing - both are worth knowing now.
After they submit
Section titled “After they submit”The bid arrives against your tender with their prices, their document and their details attached - ready to compare. See Comparing bids and awarding.