Describe the project award process.

1. Buyer SELECTS A PROPOSAL - After reviewing proposals, the buyer selects a proposal by clicking on the 'Award' button on the chosen provider’s bid. Elance sends the service provider an email notification about the bid being selected.

2. Service Provider Submits BUSINESS TERMS - The service provider receives the email from Elance and accepts the project by clicking on the 'Accept Project' link in the “Bidding Closed” tab of their “Provider Activity” section of MyElance.  If the provider does not change the bid amount and accepts the project, the final milestone date in the business terms defaults to the awarded date plus the "estimated project delivery date" of the provider's bid and the project is now started.   If the providers makes any changes to the business terms, Elance sends the buyer an email notification about the business terms being ready for review - business terms include deliverable(s), milestone(s), payment term(s) and, if applicable, other contract language that the service provider or buyer may require (as attachments). 

3. Buyer ACCEPTS Business Terms – If needed, the buyer receives the email from Elance, logs on to MyElance, clicks on the link to 'Review Business Terms' and either accepts, modifies or declines the business terms.

4. START Project - As soon as both parties have accepted the business terms, Elance moves the project to the 'Accepted Projects' tab in the "Provider Activity" section of MyElance: the service provider can start working on the project.  For Escrow projects, a notification is automatically sent to the buyer requesting that the first milestone be funded.

5. MAKING CHANGES after the project starts - Once the project is started, both the buyer and provider will be able to update the business terms by clicking on the 'Modify Business Terms' link for their project.  Once any changes are submitted, the other party can choose to accept, modify or decline the updates.  If a milestone amount is changed or a milestone is deleted, the system automatically refunds the appropriate milestone amounts currently held in Escrow back to the Buyer's original form of payment.