Understanding Gating Questions and Access

Gating questions in Keelvar Sourcing Optimizer (SO) are mandatory questions on the RFI tab that unlock parts of an event. Event gating questions unlock event information and documents, and bid sheet gating questions unlock the bid sheet. To unlock the bid sheet, a bidder answers the gating questions and clicks Confirm Gating Responses. If the bid sheet is still locked after answering, the answer may not match the required response, the responses may be saved but not confirmed, or the organizer may have changed the questions during a live round.

What are gating questions

Gating questions are mandatory, high-priority fields related to regulatory, compliance, or crucial qualification criteria. There are two types of gating questions that can be present in an event:

  • Event gating questions: Bidders are required to provide a response to access event information and documents
  • Bid sheet gating questions: Bidders are required to provide a response to access the bid sheet

How to complete gating questions

  1. Navigate to the RFI tab, located in the black toolbar at the bottom of the event screen.

    Figure 1. The RFI tab in the bottom black toolbar
  2. Review and complete all required gating questions. Mandatory fields are marked or highlighted.
  3. Save responses periodically to prevent data loss.

  4. Click Confirm Gating Responses once finished.

    Figure 2. Confirm Gating Responses button
  5. Verify Event Gating access. Once responses are confirmed and validated, access to event information and documents is granted.

  6. Verify Bid Sheet Gating access. Once responses are confirmed and validated, access to the bid sheet is granted. A confirmation message appears once the bid sheet is unlocked.

    Figure 3. Bid sheet unlocked confirmation message

Video guide

Bid sheet still locked after answering

  • The answer does not match the required response — a gating question only unlocks when the answer matches what the organizer configured, for example agreeing to terms and conditions. Review the answers given
  • The responses were saved but not confirmed — return to the Progress view and select Confirm gating responses
  • The organizer changed the questions during a live round — the organizer may need to unlock the bid sheet from their side. Contact the event organizer through the Messages tab in the event

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