Choose when an automation runs
Set schedules and event triggers for a GovTribe AI automation, and combine them so the right change starts a run.
Set triggers in the Run when… row when you create or edit an automation.
An automation can have several triggers. Any one of them starts a run; it doesn't wait for the others, and separate triggers can create separate runs.
Combine triggers
Choose + Also run when… to add another trigger. A few combinations that work well:
| Goal | Triggers to add |
|---|---|
| Watch one solicitation for amendments, and keep a weekly review | A government record changes for the opportunity, plus a weekly schedule |
| Track a likely recompete and catch a separate follow-on notice | A government record changes for the award or IDV, plus a saved search for related opportunities |
| Watch any of five specific records | One A government record changes trigger for each record |
| Review capture work after a move and on a regular rhythm | Pursuit moves stages, plus a daily or weekly schedule |
To test an automation with several triggers, choose Test run, then use Run as if to pick the trigger to simulate.
Use schedules
| Schedule | Use it when |
|---|---|
| Hourly | The automation should check or summarize work through the day. |
| Daily | One run a day is enough. |
| Weekdays | The automation should run on business days. |
| Weekly | The automation should run on one day each week. |
| Custom | You need something else, such as a one-time or monthly run. |
Each schedule has a timezone and a timing choice:
- Approximate may start at your time or shortly after. It's the default and suits most reports.
- Exact starts as close to your time as it can, though a busy period can still delay it.
Run once or every month
For a one-time or monthly run, choose Custom, or describe the schedule in Create via chat and GovTribe AI will set it up. Custom uses a recurrence rule, and the timezone you select sets the local time.
When a schedule-only automation finishes its last run, it shows Completed and No upcoming runs. If it also has an event trigger, it stays Active, because that event can still start it.
Changing a schedule's recurrence or timezone gives it a fresh start. Changing anything else, or pausing and resuming, doesn't replay a schedule that already finished.
Use event triggers
An event trigger starts a run after GovTribe records a change. GovTribe tells the run what started it, so the conversation can explain why it ran.
| Trigger | Starts a run when |
|---|---|
| A government record changes | GovTribe records new activity on the one record you selected. |
| Saved search gets new results | A saved search you selected finds new matches, at the frequency you set. |
| Pipeline created or updated | The pipeline you selected changes, or any pipeline you can access if you don't select one. |
| Pursuit created or updated | A pursuit in the pipeline you selected changes. |
| Pursuit moves stages | A pursuit moves between stages. You can limit this by direction or stage. |
Set how often a saved search is checked
Every Saved search gets new results trigger has its own Polling frequency: Instant (every 15 minutes), Daily or Weekly.
When you first choose the saved search, the trigger copies that search's frequency, or starts at Daily if there's no match. After that the two are separate. Changing or turning off the saved search's email doesn't change the automation, and neither one affects the automation's own email setting.
Saved-search triggers only look at results from when you turn the automation on or resume it. Older results aren't replayed. If you edit an active automation and keep the same saved search, it carries on from where it was.
Monitor a government record
Choose A government record changes, select a Record type, then search for the exact Government record. Each trigger follows one record, from any of these types:
- Federal Contract Award
- Federal Contract IDV
- Federal Contract Opportunity
- Federal Contract Vehicle Opportunity
- Federal Grant Opportunity
- Federal Grant Award
- Federal Forecast
- State/Local Contract Opportunity
Use this to watch an opportunity for amendments and deadline changes, an award or IDV for modifications that affect recompete timing, or a grant opportunity or forecast as its details develop. GovTribe can group several new changes to the same record into one run.
The trigger follows only the record you selected. It won't start when GovTribe adds a separate recompete, follow-on opportunity or related award. To catch those, add a saved-search or schedule trigger. Monitor pursued opportunities and follow-ons shows a complete setup.
A new trigger starts listening when you save it. Resuming a paused automation starts listening again from that moment, so earlier activity isn't replayed.
Related articles
- Automations: Create automations, choose reasoning and email settings, and manage runs.
- Monitor pursued opportunities and follow-ons: Combine triggers to catch follow-on work.
- Saved searches: Create the saved searches that can start an automation.
- Pipelines: Set up the pipelines and stages that triggers can follow.