a) "Approval is done. We can skip the technical details and start production immediately." b) "Start producing the product and we'll cover your costs when we sign the contract." c) "We are anticipating that the proposal will be approved. We can sign an interim contract to cover the first phase of the project, which we will initiate on a tentative basis" d) "The deal is almost done. It is going to be a big deal for both of us, but we need you to shoulder the start-up costs until the contract is signed. Then we can work out a contract between the two of us.".