Dash Agents

Working with Dash Agents

Dash Agents let you save a task once so it runs again on its own: on a schedule, when something changes in GovDash, or whenever you start it. This guide explains what an agent is, when it runs, and what it can use, walks through setting one up, and ends with a few examples to start from.

What is an Agent?

Instead of asking Dash to do the same task by hand each time, you can create an agent to do that task for you. The agent then runs on its own, uses the GovDash data you choose, and writes its output back to the right record, so the finished work is waiting for you instead of sitting on your to-do list.

Everything an agent does happens inside GovDash, on data that already lives there, and only with the access you grant it.

Prompt, skill, or agent

GovDash gives you three ways to get work done with Dash, and they build on each other. The right choice depends on whether you are doing something once, reusing a method, or running a whole task on its own.

The simple way to remember it: a prompt does it once, a skill saves how to do it, and an agent runs it for you on its own.

When an agent runs

You decide when an agent starts, and you can combine these.

• On a schedule — Dash runs the agent at a set time, such as every morning, every Monday, or any custom schedule.

• When something happens — Dash watches for an update and runs the agent then. Triggers include a new opportunity being added, an opportunity changing stage, a proposal being created, a document being uploaded, or a contract award being tracked.

• Manually — you start the agent when you need it. Another agent can also call it as a step in a larger workflow.

What an agent can use

An agent can only read the sources and take the actions you allow, which keeps every agent scoped to the access you grant. Available sources include Discover, Capture, Proposal, Contract, Data Library Documents, Staffing Pool, Web Search, and Creating documents.

Most agents finish by writing their output back to the related record, so the result lands exactly where your team will look for it, whether that be a Capture opportunity, a Proposal, or a Custom Document.

How to set up an agent

You don't need any technical setup. Open the Agents tab, then either describe the task in plain language using the Dash box, choose Browse common tasks to start from a pre-built task, or select Create one from scratch, which walks you through the following steps:

1. Name it and set visibility — give it a clear name and choose Personal so only you see it, or Team-wide for everyone. Make sure it is Enabled.

2. Choose when it runs — under When should this run?, pick a schedule, an event, or manual start. For events, you can choose more than one to be the trigger.

3. Choose what Dash can use — under What can Dash use?, select the sources and actions the agent is allowed to use.

4. Write the instructions — under What should Dash do?, describe what to accomplish, which sources to prioritize, the output format, and any rules (for example, cite external sources, stay under 500 words, or do not modify existing records). This is where you tell the agent what it’s supposed to do, where, and how.

5. Advanced Options/Sub-agents — You can optionally let your agent use another agent to accomplish a task. For example, if you have a well defined agent that kicks off new opportunities added to your Pipeline, you can utilize that in an agent that helps source those opportunities instead of redefining the process in a second agent.

6. Create the agent — select Create agent. Your agent is ready to run, test, or adjust at any time.

After you create it

GovDash gives you a short summary of what the agent does and a couple of next steps. We recommend you start here.

• Test it first — run the agent manually using the Start button from the Agents dashboard on an existing opportunity or record to see how it performs before you rely on it.

• Configure it as needed — adjust the instructions, triggers, or allowed sources any time from the agent's Configure screen.

• Track its work — every run is logged. On the Agents page you can see saved workflows, work in progress, and work completed, so you always know what your agents have done.

Tip

Test an agent on a couple of records first, then make small changes based on the results you see. This is the fastest way to get an agent you trust with your process.

Examples to start from

These are agents teams set up most often, grouped by lifecycle stage. Each lists when it runs and what it uses, build any of them from scratch, or look for a template under Browse common tasks. Here are some examples of what Dash Agents can accomplish:

Discover

• Weekly opportunity shortlist — ranks the week's new profile matches and adds context from web searches. Runs on a schedule. Uses Discover, Web Search, Create document.

• Agency and market watch — tracks new postings and recent awards for your target agencies and NAICS codes. Runs on a schedule. Uses Discover, Web Search, Data Library Documents.

Capture

• New opportunity first-look — researches the agency, incumbent, and recent awards the moment an opportunity is added, then saves a go / no-go read. Runs on Opportunity Created. Uses Capture, Contract, Data Library Documents, Web Search.

• Recompete landscape brief — summarizes who holds the work today and who else may bid. Runs manually or on Opportunity Created. Uses Capture, Data Library Documents, Web Search.

• Outstanding capture tasks summary — flags at-risk items and leaves a follow-up note for the team. Runs on a schedule. Uses Capture, Web Search.

Proposal

• Past performance and key personnel recommendations — matches the solicitation to your strongest past performance and suggests key personnel. Runs on Proposal Created. Uses Proposal, Contract, Staffing Pool, Data Library Documents.

• Proposal kickoff brief — turns the compliance matrix and capture notes into a kickoff summary. Runs on Proposal Created. Uses Proposal, Capture.

Try it Yourself - Opportunity First-Look Example

To show how an example becomes an agent, here is New opportunity first-look as you'd type it under What should Dash do?

AGENT INSTRUCTION

When a new opportunity is added to the pipeline, research the issuing agency, the likely incumbent, and recent related awards. Use Web Search for external context, and use the Contract and Data Library sources for our relevant past performance. Summarize how the opportunity fits our experience, list three reasons to pursue and three risks, and give an initial go / no-go lean. Save the findings to the opportunity record. Cite all external sources and stay under 600 words.

Set its trigger to Opportunity Created and turn on Capture, Contract, Data Library Documents, and Web Search. Once you add a new opportunity to your Pipeline, this will start the process and save the results to the Activity tab in your opportunity.