Winning a job: Lock → quote PDF → award → bill → Actuals
This is the EstiLumina path from estimate to job cost after you win the work. No shortcuts — each step writes real documents your PM can audit. New workspaces start empty; follow these steps on your own job.
1. Lock the budget baseline
Open a job → Budget tab. Build or import your CSI breakdown, enter quantities and unit costs, then click Lock Budget. Locked lines show remaining-to-award and Commit left columns — variance tracks against this baseline.
Open Projects →2. Collect quotes & attach PDFs
Bids tab → create a bid package and send the signed portal link. When a sub submits, their quote appears on budget lines. Upload or link the trade quote PDF — click the dollar chip on a line to open it.
Bids on a job →3. Award → PO commitment
Level quotes if needed, then award the winning quote. EstiLumina creates one PO commitment per award — never a duplicate. Committed column updates; remaining-to-award shrinks toward zero.
Award from budget →4. Record vendor bills
Project Controls → Vendor Bills. Enter the bill amount and map line splits to budget lines (or use cost codes for labor). Approved/paid bills flow to Actual; Projected = max(Budget, Committed, Actual).
Project Controls on a job →5. Read Actuals & drill down
Budget columns refresh live as costs land. Click any money cell — Committed, Actual, remaining-to-award — to open the drill drawer and see source POs, bills, and quote PDFs. Use Roll up Actuals when you want a saved snapshot.
Job-cost columns →Vendor bills keep description, amount, and cost codes on the same job record for Actuals. See Help Center for other modules.