diff --git a/apps/complaints/ui_views.py b/apps/complaints/ui_views.py
index 768527d..96a0b29 100644
--- a/apps/complaints/ui_views.py
+++ b/apps/complaints/ui_views.py
@@ -3116,6 +3116,11 @@ def inquiry_transfer_to_department(request, pk):
         messages.error(request, _("You don't have permission to transfer inquiries to departments."))
         return redirect("inquiries:inquiry_detail", pk=pk)
 
+    # Must be activated (in_progress) before it can be sent to a department
+    if inquiry.status == "open":
+        messages.error(request, _("Activate this inquiry before sending it to a department."))
+        return redirect("inquiries:inquiry_detail", pk=pk)
+
     department_id = request.POST.get("department_id")
     if not department_id:
         messages.error(request, _("Please select a department."))
@@ -3355,6 +3360,13 @@ def inquiry_send_to(request, pk):
             "error": str(_("You don't have permission to send this inquiry.")),
         }, status=403)
 
+    # Must be activated (in_progress) before it can be sent/assigned
+    if inquiry.status == "open":
+        return JsonResponse({
+            "success": False,
+            "error": str(_("Activate this inquiry before sending it to a department.")),
+        }, status=400)
+
     recipient_type = request.POST.get("recipient_type", "department")
     note = request.POST.get("note", "").strip()
 
diff --git a/apps/core/management/commands/seed_e2e_dept_response.py b/apps/core/management/commands/seed_e2e_dept_response.py
index 2887483..5048249 100644
--- a/apps/core/management/commands/seed_e2e_dept_response.py
+++ b/apps/core/management/commands/seed_e2e_dept_response.py
@@ -46,6 +46,6 @@ class Command(BaseCommand):
             item = Observation.objects.create(
                 hospital=e2e,
                 description=f"E2E observation dept-response seed #{n}. Automated - please ignore.",
-                status="new",
+                status="open",
             )
             print(f"item_id={item.id} tracking_code={item.tracking_code} department_id={dept.id} champion_staff_id={dept.champion_id}")
diff --git a/apps/observations/views.py b/apps/observations/views.py
index 9d7d6dc..a08cc8b 100644
--- a/apps/observations/views.py
+++ b/apps/observations/views.py
@@ -1011,6 +1011,11 @@ def observation_send_to_department(request, pk):
         messages.error(request, _("You don't have permission to send observations to departments."))
         return redirect("observations:observation_detail", pk=pk)
 
+    # Must be activated (in_progress) before it can be sent to a department
+    if observation.status == ObservationStatus.OPEN:
+        messages.error(request, _("Activate this observation before sending it to a department."))
+        return redirect("observations:observation_detail", pk=pk)
+
     department_id = request.POST.get("department_id")
     if not department_id:
         messages.error(request, _("Please select a department."))
@@ -1267,6 +1272,13 @@ def observation_send_to(request, pk):
             "error": str(_("You don't have permission to send this observation.")),
         }, status=403)
 
+    # Must be activated (in_progress) before it can be sent/assigned
+    if observation.status == ObservationStatus.OPEN:
+        return JsonResponse({
+            "success": False,
+            "error": str(_("Activate this observation before sending it to a department.")),
+        }, status=400)
+
     recipient_type = request.POST.get("recipient_type", "department")
     note = request.POST.get("note", "").strip()
 
diff --git a/e2e/tests/workflows/inquiry-observation-dept-workflow.spec.ts b/e2e/tests/workflows/inquiry-observation-dept-workflow.spec.ts
index abe8479..140a84c 100644
--- a/e2e/tests/workflows/inquiry-observation-dept-workflow.spec.ts
+++ b/e2e/tests/workflows/inquiry-observation-dept-workflow.spec.ts
@@ -153,6 +153,8 @@ async function flowA(page: Page, K: KindCfg) {
 
     // 1. PX send - VISIBLE: detail page + Send-to modal
     await login(page, PXT, M); await ensureAuth(page, PXT, M);
+    // activate first (items can't be sent to a dept until activated)
+    await postForm(page, `${BASE_URL}${K.activate(itemId)}`, {});
     await page.goto(`${BASE_URL}${K.detail(itemId)}`);
     await page.waitForLoadState('domcontentloaded');
     await page.waitForTimeout(700);
@@ -229,6 +231,7 @@ async function flowB(page: Page, K: KindCfg) {
     observe(M, 'B-seed', 'INFO', `${K.label} ${itemId}`, { role: CHAMP });
     // 1. PX send via token-minting endpoint
     await login(page, PXT, M); await ensureAuth(page, PXT, M);
+    await postForm(page, `${BASE_URL}${K.activate(itemId)}`, {}); // activate first
     await postObs(page, M, `${BASE_URL}${K.sendToken(itemId)}`, { department_id: s.deptId, contact_person_id: s.champStaffId, recipient_type: 'staff', note_en: 'E2E transfer' }, 'B-send-token', PXT);
     const tok = state(K.seedKind, itemId).response_token;
     if (!tok || tok === 'NONE') { observe(M, 'B-token', 'FAIL', 'no response_token minted', { role: CHAMP }); return; }
@@ -267,6 +270,7 @@ async function flowC(page: Page, K: KindCfg) {
     const s = seed(K.seedKind);
     itemId = s.itemId;
     await login(page, PXT, M); await ensureAuth(page, PXT, M);
+    await postForm(page, `${BASE_URL}${K.activate(itemId)}`, {}); // activate first
     await postForm(page, `${BASE_URL}${K.sendTo(itemId)}`, { recipient_type: 'department', department_id: s.deptId, contact_person_id: s.champStaffId, note: 'C' });
     await login(page, CHAMP, M); await ensureAuth(page, CHAMP, M);
     await postForm(page, `${BASE_URL}${K.deptResponse(itemId)}`, { response_en: 'C first response' });