# Bring in bid invites automatically

> Set up forwarding so every invite lands on your board on its own, and paste the odd one for the agent to read.

Source: https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/guides/bring-in-bid-invites
Section: How to use Tidy

The fastest way to fill your board is to forward invites to your bids address and let Tidy file them.

## Before you start

- Your teammates need Tidy accounts with their work email, so Tidy knows the forwards come from your company.
- The **New Bid Creation** plugin must be on. Admins can check it in Agent mode under **Skills & Plugins > Plugins**.

## Forward one invite

1. Open a bid invite in your email.
2. Forward it, with its attachments, to `bids@tidy.automatedconstruction.io`.
3. Wait for the confirmation reply.
4. Open **Opportunities > Undecided**. The new opportunity is there, with the client, due date and files filled in.

## Forward them all automatically

Make an email rule so you never forward by hand.

**Gmail**

1. In Gmail settings, open **Forwarding and POP/IMAP** and add `bids@tidy.automatedconstruction.io` as a forwarding address. Confirm it if Gmail asks.
2. Open **Filters and Blocked Addresses** and create a filter for invites, for example from your bid networks' addresses or with "Invitation to Bid" in the subject.
3. Choose **Forward it to** your bids address.

**Outlook**

1. Open **Settings > Mail > Rules** and add a new rule.
2. Set the condition, such as the sender or words in the subject.
3. Choose **Forward to** and enter your bids address.

> [!tip]
> Start with a narrow rule (one bid network, or your top clients). Widen it once you trust what lands on the board. Tidy skips duplicates and emails that are not invites.

## Paste an invite instead

1. On **Opportunities**, click **+ Opportunity** and open **Add With Agent**.
2. Paste the email and add any files.
3. Click **Create with agent**, check the fields and click **Confirm & Create bid**.

## Ask the agent

In Agent mode, attach the invite (an `.eml` or `.msg` file, a PDF or a screenshot) and say "Create an opportunity from this." The agent shows you every field to confirm before it saves.

## If something goes wrong

| What you see | What to do |
| --- | --- |
| A "not imported" reply | Tidy did not think it was a bid invite. Add it with **+ Opportunity**. |
| No reply at all | Check that you sent from your Tidy account's email or your company domain, and that **New Bid Creation** is on. |
| A plan-limit reply | Your company used its 10 Free opportunities. An admin can upgrade in **Admin > Billing**. |
| Wrong client | Open the bid and fix the client on **Overview**. Add the client's web domain so the next one matches. |

## Related

- [Bring in bid invites (feature)](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/features/bid-intake)
- [Assign and claim bids](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/guides/assign-and-claim-bids)