Here is a little 'gotcha' you may run into with alerting. Make sure you are using either Application or Component. You can't always mix and match them in the alert conditions. If you are setting up a Component alert make sure you choose Component. At the Application level some of the logic is 'all of the components of the application' 

   i don't have either options listed. 

I was assuming that you have already set up SAM templates to monitor the services or applications? Do you have SAM and have you configured any Service or Application monitoring templates?

No, I'm new to this company and solarwinds was already setup. They haven't used it for restarting services or applications.  I also don't see any matching templates for it. 

I don't see SAM listed under main settings.  How would I enable this feature? 

I don't see SAM listed under main settings.  How would I enable this feature? 

looks like this might be the issue. 

403 - Forbidden, Ooops...

You cannot use this feature, as your current license does not include access to it.

any idea what the cost is for this license?  

If you own it, it should be located under My Dashboards then Applications. It is called SAM Summary. 

If you go to https://solarwinds.com/ try here