procurement

. You may fund one or more milestones at any time. The milestones can only be released in full amounts. If you do not intend to make a full payment against a milestone amount, you need to request that the service provider modify the Business Terms with additional milestones with smaller payment amounts. You cannot fund and release a partial amount against a single milestone. _Releasing Project Milestones_ When the provider has completed ## Deliverables 1) Complete and fully-functional working program(s) in executable form as well as complete source code of all work done. 2) Deliverables must be in ready-to-run condition, as follows (depending on the nature of the deliverables): a) For web sites or other server-side deliverables intended to only ever How do I use Elance Escrow? **Elance Escrow: Quick Overview** For projects that use Elance Escrow, the buyer's funds are held securely in the project's escrow account. The funds are released from the escrow account upon completion of services by the provider and only upon approval by the buyer. There are absolutely no fees for using Elance Escrow. Also, if you choose to use Elance Escrow, the following additional services are made available for the project. These services are also provided without any fees: * [Elance 1099 Service][1] (for U.S. buyers working with U.S. providers) * [Elance Mediation][2] (only available for Elance Escrow projects) **Elance Escrow: Why Use Escrow?** At no additional cost, Elance Escrow protects both the buyer and the provider. Buyer's funds are held securely until the services are provided satisfactorily. The provider can begin working on a project knowing that the buyer has provided project funding into the escrow account. In addition, projects that use Elance Escrow receive the benefit of the following free services: * [Elance 1099 Service][1] (for U.S. buyers working with U.S. providers) * [Elance Mediation][2] (only available for Elance Escrow projects) **Elance Escrow: How It Works** 1. Buyer posts a new project specifying the use of Elance Escrow for project payments. 2. Service provider bids on the project agreeing to use Elance Escrow. 3. Buyer awards the project to the provider. Provider submits the Business Terms (including Escrow Milestones) for buyer approval. 4. Buyer approves the Business Terms completing the project award to the provider. 5. Before work begins on a project, the provider requests the buyer to fund the escrow account for the project. (The escrow account may be funded in full or a milestone at a time.) 6. The buyer deposits the requested funds into the escrow account. 7. Provider begins work on the project. (On an escrow project, the provider is not obligated to begin work on the project until the requested funds have been deposited into the escrow account.) 8. When the services and/or deliverables have been completed for a project milestone, the provider requests release of the milestone. 9. If the buyer is satisfied with the provider's services for the project milestone, the buyer releases the milestone. The milestone release results in the transfer of funds from the escrow account to the provider's Elance account. For more detailed instructions, see the Buyer Instructions or the Provider Instructions. Please note that Elance Escrow is required automatically for projects posted with budgets of $2,000 or higher or for bids of $2,000 or higher. **Elance Escrow: Buyer Instructions** ## Platform 4. Locate the project and then click on the View Business Terms link for that project. The project milestones are displayed at the bottom of the Business Terms page. Each Project Milestone is displayed with the delivery date, funded amount, released amount, and current status. _Requesting Mediation_ If you have provided services in accordance with the project terms and the buyer refuses to approve your requests for milestone release, you may contact Elance for assistance by requesting mediation on the project. To request mediation, click here. [Click here][3] for a step-by-step Provider's [login to view URL]