Tressa,
The general practice is that a contract request is created and approved and then a contract workspace is then create. That said this my not be the process that is used or needed at your company and therefore, we would suggest that you create a process that once the contract worksapce is published someone will close the associated contract request. Somce companies will close the contract request after the contract workspace is created.
I hope this helps
Leslie Martensen
Sr. Product Manager - Ariba Contracts