> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.atum.xyz/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Quote expiry and declines

> How long your quotes stay valid, and when to decline a request instead of quoting.

This page is for [settlement operators](https://docs.atum.xyz/get-started/reference/glossary.md#settlement-operator).

## Quote expiry

Every quote you send carries an expiry, `award_deadline` (the [quote expiry](https://docs.atum.xyz/get-started/concepts/deadlines.md#quote-expiry)). You choose it, based on your own risk, capital and how fast you can deliver. Until it passes, the gateway may select your quote, and you deliver at the quoted price. Payers cannot set it and only see it on quotes you have sent.

The gateway usually selects when the payer's quote window ends (`quote_deadline`), so a quote that expires before then is not selected. A payer can instead ask for the first valid quote ([auto accept](https://docs.atum.xyz/get-started/concepts/deadlines.md#auto-accept)), which the gateway selects as soon as it arrives.

Set the expiry no later than the last moment you can still deliver: `fulfillment_deadline` minus the time you need to deposit the payer's funds in the settlement vault, have that deposit confirmed on the source chain, and get your payout onto the destination chain. If you wait longer for a large deposit, for example until the source chain finalizes it, count that wait too. Destination confirmations do not need to finish before the deadline; see [Destination finality](https://docs.atum.xyz/settle-payments/destination-finality.md).

### Reference agent

The [reference agent](https://docs.atum.xyz/settle-payments/operating-a-settler-agent.md) sets `award_deadline` to `quoteRiskWindowSeconds` after it quotes, or to the last moment it can still deliver if that is earlier. `quoteRiskWindowSeconds` is required:

```yaml theme={"theme":"github-dark"}
execution:
  bidding:
    strategy: staticMarkup
    quoteRiskWindowSeconds: 60 # example: how long you stand behind a price, in seconds
    staticMarkup:
      markupBps: 50
      markupAbsolute: '0'
```

The old name `quoteDeadlineFallbackSeconds` still works; use `quoteRiskWindowSeconds`. How you price a quote is on [Bidding strategies](https://docs.atum.xyz/settle-payments/bidding-strategies.md).

## Declining a request

Decline when you cannot honor a request. The payer sees the reason, counted in `decline_summary`; they never see your settings.

| Reason | When to send it |
| - | - |
| [`QUOTE_WINDOW_TOO_LONG`](https://docs.atum.xyz/decline-reasons#quote-window-too-long) | The payer's quote window ends after your quote would expire. |
| [`DEADLINE_TOO_SHORT`](https://docs.atum.xyz/decline-reasons#deadline-too-short) | There is not enough time left to deliver before `fulfillment_deadline`. |
| [`AUCTION_CLOSED`](https://docs.atum.xyz/decline-reasons#auction-closed) | The quote window had already closed when you looked at the request. |
| [`MAX_SOURCE_AMOUNT_TOO_LOW`](https://docs.atum.xyz/decline-reasons#max-source-amount-too-low) | Your price is above the payer's `max_source_amount`. |

The reference agent sends these for you. All reasons: [Decline reasons](https://docs.atum.xyz/decline-reasons.md).

## Next steps

| Topic | Guide |
| - | - |
| Confirmations Veri-Fill waits for | [Destination finality](https://docs.atum.xyz/settle-payments/destination-finality.md) |
| How you price a quote | [Bidding strategies](https://docs.atum.xyz/settle-payments/bidding-strategies.md) |
| Reference agent profile | [Configuration](https://docs.atum.xyz/settle-payments/configuration/overview.md) |


## Related topics

- [Destination finality](https://docs.atum.xyz/settle-payments/destination-finality.md)
- [Configuration overview](https://docs.atum.xyz/settle-payments/configuration/overview.md)
- [The settlement lifecycle](https://docs.atum.xyz/settle-payments/settlement-lifecycle.md)
- [Bidding strategies](https://docs.atum.xyz/settle-payments/bidding-strategies.md)
- [Operating a settler agent](https://docs.atum.xyz/settle-payments/operating-a-settler-agent.md)


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