Which bidding document invites suppliers to bid on specific products or services and often aligns with an invitation for bid?

Which bidding document invites suppliers to bid on specific products or services and often aligns with an invitation for bid?

• A. Request for Information (RFI)
• B. Request for Proposal (RFP)
• C. Request for Quote (RFQ)
• D. Invitation for Bid (IFB)

Answer: (C)

When a buyer wants fixed price quotes for a clearly defined product or service, they use a Request for Quote. This document invites suppliers to submit price quotes for a specific scope, with the evaluation focused largely on price (and terms like delivery) rather than on detailed technical solutions. It often aligns with an Invitation for Bid process, where the emphasis is on competitive, formal bids to obtain the lowest qualifying price.

In contrast, a Request for Information is used to gather general information about capabilities and markets without price quotes; a Request for Proposal asks vendors to propose technical solutions along with costs and how they would meet requirements; and an Invitation for Bid is the actual formal invitation to submit bids—RFQs are the document that solicit those bids for defined items.