Need your bid templates to reflect your team’s terminology and supplier expectations? Now you can customize bid columns, define allowed values, and give your suppliers clearer direction — all without leaving CQ.
Step 1: Navigate to Bid Column Configuration
- Go to Configuration → Suppliers → Bid Columns.
- You’ll see a list of all pre-defined CQ bid columns.
Step 2: Rename Default Columns
Each row will include:
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CQ Default Column Name
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Custom Column Name (click to edit)
Click into the Custom Column Name cell and enter your preferred label
Step 3: Define Allowed Values (Optional)
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For each column, you can specify a list of valid values that suppliers must choose from.
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You may also:
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Enter a default value that appears automatically.
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Add a description to guide suppliers on what the value means.
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💬 Descriptions reduce confusion and eliminate the need for separate documentation.
Step 4: Activate or Inactivate Columns
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You can activate/inactivate any custom column unless it is required by CQ.
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Toggle availability based on what’s relevant to each bid template.
📄 Step 5: Include Columns in a Bid Template
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Navigate to Bid Templates and select/create a template.
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Choose which custom bid columns to include.
📤 Step 6: Use the Template in a New RFQ
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Create a New RFQ or New PLA Quote.
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Select your bid template during the RFQ setup.
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When suppliers receive the bid request via BidCQ:
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They’ll see your custom column names.
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They’ll be required to enter values that match your allowed values.
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If they try to enter an invalid value, they’ll see an error message.
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