The brokering workbench is where a sponsor or CRO turns a research interest into a two-sided introduction with a site. Only demand-side organizations (sponsors and CROs) broker. A site sees why the workbench has no actions for it; it is matched by keeping its listings and capability metrics current.
Propose a match
- Under Propose a match, choose one of your research interests and a marketplace listing.
- Review the Match score. A listing that fails a hard requirement of the interest is flagged; the score is an operational fit score, not a recommendation to enroll.
- Select Propose match. The pair becomes a match candidate.
You can propose against an anonymous listing. Its site stays hidden (“Site not disclosed yet”) until the site accepts an introduction. You can also score listings against an interest from Browse listings and propose from there.
The note under the form says whether a trained ranking model is available for your organization. Without one, candidates are ordered by the match score alone.
Review match candidates
The Match candidates list filters to Open, Introduced, Declined or All. A candidate is New when proposed and In review once someone starts reviewing it. From either state you can:
- Decline it, which closes the candidate without contacting the site.
- Open introduction, which asks the site to accept a two-sided introduction. Record any conflict of interest in the dialog so it travels with the introduction: None declared, or Disclosed — needs broker review with a disclosure note saying what was disclosed and by whom.
Work an introduction
An introduction starts Awaiting site. While it is open:
- Record the site’s answer with Site accepted or Site declined.
- Record COI or Review COI to change the conflict-of-interest status. A disclosed conflict stays on the introduction until a broker review clears it.
- Withdraw the introduction if the sponsor no longer wants to proceed.
After the site accepts, its identity is revealed and you can draft the agreement for the introduction: Draft one opens Agreements. The agreement steps are in Draft and execute an agreement.
Close the match
Once the site has accepted, Close introduction records the match as done and can link the executed agreement for it. Closing is final: Commons tells Control the match is closed so the study can be set up there. If a conflict of interest is still disclosed and not cleared, the dialog says so before you confirm.
Commons enforces the lifecycle on the server. If a change isn’t allowed in the introduction’s current state, the dialog or notification shows the reason and nothing changes.