---
title: "Viewing Public Solicitations"
slug: "viewing-public-solicitations"
updated: 2024-04-18T20:54:00Z
published: 2024-04-18T20:54:00Z
canonical: "wiki.cobblestonesoftware.com/viewing-public-solicitations"
---

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

# Viewing Public Solicitations

### **Viewing Public Solicitations**

**Vendor/Client Gateway: Viewing Public Solicitations**

For Solicitation Records that have an Invitation Type of Public, these can be viewed by the public through the Vendor/Client Gateway's **Public Search**:

**Accessing Public Solicitations:** 1. Go to the **Solicitations** top navigation menu from the Vendor/Client Gateway's main page. ![Graphical user interface, application, Word Description automatically generated](https://cdn.document360.io/e3626857-1fb5-4e27-b278-2d3fc5508be4/Images/Documentation/Solicitations%20on%20waffle.PNG)

2. Click the **Search Public Solicitations** menu option to view all Solicitation Records marked as Public. ![](https://cdn.document360.io/e3626857-1fb5-4e27-b278-2d3fc5508be4/Images/Documentation/Public%20Solicitations%20Search.PNG)

**Note:** Public Solicitations are visible to potential bidders prior to the **Bid Close Date**.

**Viewing Public Solicitations** 1. Click **View** for the Solicitation Record line item to view its details.

![](https://cdn.document360.io/e3626857-1fb5-4e27-b278-2d3fc5508be4/Images/Documentation/Public%20Solicitation%20View.png)2. The **Solicitation Details** screen displays where any Solicitation Details fields that have been specified to be displayed on the Public portion of the Gateway will show with any information that the Solicitation Record contains. **Viewing Public Solicitation Files** ![](https://cdn.document360.io/e3626857-1fb5-4e27-b278-2d3fc5508be4/Images/Documentation/Solicitations%20files%20and%20attachments.PNG)

To sort the grid displayed, click the Column name by which to sort (once to sort ascending, a second time to sort descending, and a third time to remove the sort order). To Filter the gird displayed, enter a keyword(s) into the **Filter text box** for the field by which to filter and then click the **Filter Icon** to select how the grid should be filtered based on the keyword(s) entered. To open/view an attachment, click the attachment's name and proceed to open/download the file. To export the Files/Attachments, click **Export Files/Attachments** on the side menu to export the Files/Attachments grid to Excel. ![](https://cdn.document360.io/e3626857-1fb5-4e27-b278-2d3fc5508be4/Images/Documentation/Solicitation%20Side%20Menu%20Export%20Files%20Buttons.png) **Submitting Questions** Questions about Public Solicitations can only be submitted through the **Vendor/Client Gateway** once the Vendor/Client has logged in and been authenticated. ![](https://cdn.document360.io/e3626857-1fb5-4e27-b278-2d3fc5508be4/Images/Documentation/Solicitation%20Side%20Menu%20Register%20as%20Respondent.png)

![](https://cdn.document360.io/e3626857-1fb5-4e27-b278-2d3fc5508be4/Images/Documentation/Public%20Question%20and%20Answer%20on%20Grid.PNG)

Once you have registered as a respondent, find the solicitation under **My Solicitations**. Scroll down to the Questions & Answers Section to submit your question. Click the **Ask Question** button to submit.

![](https://cdn.document360.io/e3626857-1fb5-4e27-b278-2d3fc5508be4/Images/Documentation/My%20Questions.PNG)

To Export the grid of Questions & Answers that have been submitted, click **Export Questions/Answers** on the side menu.

![](https://cdn.document360.io/e3626857-1fb5-4e27-b278-2d3fc5508be4/Images/Documentation/Solicitation%20Side%20Menu%20Export%20QA.png)