Missed or late bidding window

Late bidding applies only to schedule bids that use the Rotation Schedule Bidding Method. You can use this feature to allow employees who miss their bidding window because of illness, emergencies, technical issues, or other reasons still submit a bid. Late bidding applies only when the schedule bid status shows OPEN and the bid period continues.

To allow late bidding, you must select the Allow Late Bidding check box on the Create/Manage Schedule Bid screen. You must configure this option for each schedule bid individually.

When late bidding is enabled and an employee’s bidding window ends, the employee can submit a bid from the SSP Schedule Bidding screen at any time, as long as the schedule bid stays open and the bid period continues. After submission, a confirmation message indicates that the system accepts the bid as a late bid.

If the Allow Late Bidding check box is not selected and the employee’s bidding window ends, the message Your bidding window has expired displays and prevents the employee from submitting a bid.

During bid processing, these rules apply:

  1. Bid window owner priority

    The bid window owner’s bid is always prioritized. When the owner submits a bid, it is awarded before any late bids.

  2. Late bid ordering

    If multiple employees submit late bids during the same bidding window, the bids are processed in submission order based on timestamp (first come, first served).

  3. Concurrent awards

    Both the owner’s bid and late bids are awarded when possible:

    • If the owner and a late bidder select different rotations, both bids are awarded.
    • If the owner and a late bidder select the same rotation and sufficient slots are available, both bids are awarded.
    • If only one slot is available, only the owner’s bid is awarded.
  4. Notification for unawarded late bids

    If a late bid cannot be awarded, a workmail notification is sent to the employee. For example, a bid is not awarded if the available slot is already filled by the owner or another late bidder.

    The notification includes the schedule bid name, the reason the bid is not awarded, and instructions for submitting a new bid. Employees can submit another late bid as long as the schedule bid remains open and the bid period does not end.

If all employee bidding windows end, late bids are processed during the next run of the Bid Window End Calculator task.