Help Home/Creating Negotiations

When you add a line to a new negotiation (RFI, RFQ, auction), you may choose to add one or more line attributes to that line. Line attributes define 1) unique specifications that you set for a negotiation line, and 2) the details that a participant should provide when responding to that negotiation line. Line attributes make your negotiation line more descriptive and can also be used to ensure that all responses submitted for the line include specific details not included elsewhere in the line information.

For example, a buyer can create an auction to buy a fleet of 12 vehicles for a delivery service. When the buyer adds the line (vehicle) to the auction, the buyer can add an attribute called "mileage" to specify that the bid item must have fewer than 12,000 miles on the odometer. While the buyer could enter this information in the auction line description, using an attribute to define this specification calls attention to the specification. In addition, if the buyer marks this attribute as required, then bidders must enter the mileage of any bid.

Line attributes can call attention to industry-specific characteristics. For example, retail industry negotiation items can include such attributes as "color," "style," and "SKUnumber." Metal industry negotiation items can include "grade of metal" as an attribute. Adding these as required item attributes that are displayed to bidders can customize your negotiation items to your specific industry.

For more information about how to add line attributes to your negotiation items, see Adding Line Attributes to Auction or RFQ Lines