> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.meritmatch.io/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.
# Pipeline stages: move opportunities through the BD lifecycle
> Understand what each of MERIT's six pipeline stages means and how to move opportunities forward — including drag-and-drop, sorting, and the Gate Tracker connection.
Your pipeline is a live picture of where every pursuit stands. Moving an opportunity from one stage to the next is a deliberate act — it means your team has done the work that stage requires and is ready to commit resources to the next phase. This page covers the six stages, how to move cards between them, how to sort within a stage, and what opens when you click into an opportunity.
## The six stages
You've spotted a potential opportunity. You don't yet know whether it's worth pursuing, but you want to track it. This stage is for early research — understanding the agency, the rough scope, and whether the opportunity aligns with your capabilities.
**Tip from MERIT:** "Begin your pipeline by identifying and researching potential opportunities."
You've done enough research to know this is a real opportunity that may be winnable. This stage is where you evaluate fit — checking your NAICS alignment, set-aside eligibility, competitive landscape, and whether you have the right teaming relationships.
**Tip from MERIT:** "Search for RFPs that match your capabilities and add them here to track progress."
You've decided to pursue this opportunity. Capture is active work — building relationships with the agency, developing your solution, assembling your team, and preparing for the RFP. This stage requires the most sustained effort and typically spans months.
**Tip from MERIT:** "Move qualified opportunities here when you're actively gathering intel and building your capture strategy."
The RFP has dropped and you've submitted your proposal — or you're in the final stages of writing it. This stage covers the period from RFP release through award decision.
**Tip from MERIT:** "Track opportunities where you're actively developing and submitting proposals."
You've received an award notification. This is where won contracts live. The stage is also where you track active programs after award.
**Tip from MERIT:** "Celebrate your successful bids! This is where awarded contracts live."
The pursuit didn't result in an award. Moving an opportunity to Lost — rather than deleting it — preserves it for review. Tracking losses helps you spot patterns over time and make better pursuit decisions in the future.
**Tip from MERIT:** "Track lost opportunities to analyze patterns and improve your win rate."
## Moving opportunities between stages
### Drag and drop
The fastest way to change a pursuit's stage is to drag its card from one column and drop it into another. Click and hold the card, drag it to the target column, and release. MERIT saves the change after you move the card.
If the Gate Tracker is below the recommended completion threshold for the current stage, MERIT may show a **Force Advance** warning before moving the card. You can continue anyway or go back and update the Gate Tracker first.
### Edit the opportunity
You can also change the stage from the card menu. Select the three-dot menu on the card, choose **Edit opportunity**, and update **Status** in the edit form.
## Sorting within a stage
Each stage column has its own sort order, controlled by a dropdown at the top of the column. Sorting one column doesn't affect the others.
| Sort option | How it orders cards |
| ------------------ | ---------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Default order** | Manual order — drag cards to arrange them however you like |
| **Contract value** | Highest total contract value first |
| **RFP date** | Earliest anticipated RFP date first |
| **Award date** | Earliest award date first |
| **Contract role** | Prime first, then Sub, then JV Prime |
To return to manual ordering, reset the sort to **Default order**.
## Creating an opportunity manually
To add a new opportunity directly to a specific stage, select **Add opportunity** in that stage column. The **Create New Opportunity** form opens. Fill in the required details, then save. The new card appears in that stage.
## Sharing and collaboration
You can share an opportunity with teammates from the three-dot menu on the card when you have permission to manage access.
If you want an opportunity to appear in the company-wide **Master Pipeline**, select **Push to Master Pipeline** from the card menu. This initiates an approval request for company-wide visibility.
## The opportunity workspace
Selecting any card opens its full workspace. The workspace is organized into six tabs:
Key opportunity details: title, customer or agency, NAICS, value, dates, description, and status.
A field-based checklist organized by pipeline stage. As you fill in fields, MERIT shows your completion progress and helps you decide when the pursuit is ready to advance.
See the [Gate Tracker guide](/pursuits/gate-tracker) for full detail on how fields work and how to use the AI fill feature.
Create and assign action items for the pursuit. Tasks have a title, due date, and assigned owner. Use tasks to track the specific things that need to happen before your next stage advance.
Attach and store documents relevant to the pursuit — SOWs, PWS files, teaming agreements, or proposal drafts.
Evaluate your competitive position on this opportunity. The Scorecard captures factors that affect your likelihood of winning.
Add team members to the pursuit and track who is responsible for what.
Use **Set as Active Project** from the card's three-dot menu to pin an opportunity as your current focus. The active project is highlighted in the pipeline and shows an **Active** badge on the card.