PLEASE HELP!! How to set up 1099 contractors as client users

PLEASE HELP!! How to set up 1099 contractors as client users

We use a lot of freelance contractors on projects. I want to add these contractors as client users and assign them tasks. The client users need to be able to comment in the discussion feed and mark tasks complete. 

I have added a few freelance contractors. I have associated them to corrrect projects. But they do not come up when I try to assign tasks. This is SO frustrating!!! 

Please make a clear explanation of how to do this!!