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)

Request for Quote focuses on obtaining price quotes for a clearly defined set of goods or services. When a buyer knows exactly what is needed and wants to compare offers primarily on cost and terms, they issue a RFQ. This document invites suppliers to submit bids (price quotes) for the specified items, with responses typically emphasizing price, delivery, and terms. An RFQ often aligns with an Invitation for Bid because both aim to achieve competitive pricing from multiple suppliers and use a price-based evaluation to select a supplier. By contrast, a Request for Information seeks basic information without price, a Request for Proposal solicits detailed technical and managerial approaches plus pricing, and an Invitation for Bid is the formal bid invitation itself rather than the response. Therefore, for inviting bids on defined products or services with price as the main criterion, the appropriate document is the Request for Quote.