> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://help.owlery.ai/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Rounds, Deadlines, and Awards

> How an RFP lane moves through bidding rounds, what happens at the deadline, and what an award means for you.

This page is for **Carriers & Brokers**. A shipper's carriers and brokers use Owlery the same way, so this page applies to both. If the person you're helping isn't a carrier or broker, this page doesn't apply to them.

**Where to find it:** `Dashboard → Management → RFP → [RFP] → [lane]`

Each lane is bid in rounds, and every round has its own submission deadline. After a round closes, the shipper either awards the lane or starts another round with a shorter list of carriers.

Rounds belong to each lane, not the whole RFP. One lane can be awarded in round 1 while another is still in round 3.

## How a Lane Moves Through an RFP

1. **Round 1 opens**: every invited carrier can bid until the round's submission deadline.
2. **The deadline passes**: you can no longer submit bids for that round. The shipper may extend the deadline, and you'll get an email if they do. You can't extend a deadline yourself.
3. **The shipper decides**: they either award the lane or move selected carriers to a new round. Only carriers who bid in a round can be moved to the next one, so if you skip a round, you're out for that lane.

What happens next depends on the shipper's choice:

* **You're moved to a new round**: you'll get a "promoted" email. Your earlier bids don't carry over, so submit a new bid before the new deadline. You can still see your earlier bids in the lane's bid table.
* **You aren't moved to the new round**: the lane shows "This bidding round is closed and is not accepting bids."
* **The lane is awarded**: see below.

## When You're Awarded

* You get an email saying you've been selected as a preferred carrier, with a list of the lanes.
* The lane shows **Awarded**, and your winning bid is marked with a trophy.
* Owlery creates a contract rate for you on that lane. It uses your bid, your fuel schedule choice, your transit times, and the RFP's effective dates. Review it from the award email, or at `Dashboard → Management → Contract Rates`.
* A shipper can award more than one carrier on the same lane, for example a primary and a backup.

## If You Weren't Awarded

Owlery doesn't email carriers who weren't awarded, and the lane keeps showing **Unawarded**. Contact the shipper to find out the outcome.

***

Still stuck? Email [support@owlery.ai](mailto:support@owlery.ai) or contact the shipper running the RFP.


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