What is the Difference Between a Submitted Proposal and a Prebid?

A service provider’s proposal includes their comments, proposal amount, general approach to the job, relevant experience and skills, when the job can be delivered and samples of relevant work.   When a provider needs clarification about a job in order to submit an accurate proposal amount, they may first place a Prebid.  A Prebid will not include the proposal amount or comments.   (Note: The service provider uses the same number of Connects for Prebids as they would for a proposal.)  

Instead, when a Prebid is submitted, the Private Message Board will be initiated, and the service provider may discuss the project details with the employer.   After the employer responds to the Private Message questions, the provider can submit a proposal amount before the job's period to submit proposals ends.  Once that period ends, the provider will not be able to enter in an amount. 

The employer cannot hire a provider from their Prebid, so the provider must submit a proposal in order to be hired for the job.