SWAPA SRC got back to me.

Summary - there's no way to tell and the call from planning is your first indication of your award and when you are going to training.

So yes, you can bid into what you think is a lance spot, not know for 3 days, then find out you are going to training in a week or a month depending on when they can fit you in. Then someone can bid into your spot the next month and you won't go to training at all if you are the last lance in your base.

Apparently there isn't currently a better way. She said they are working on the process for the next contract, but I highly doubt Lance will survive intact into the next CBA.