Request for quote (RFQ)

RFQs are common under the simplified acquisition procedures of FAR Part 13 and for orders against Federal Supply Schedule contracts under FAR 8.405. Under FAR 13.004, a quotation is not an offer; when the government issues an order based on it, that order is the offer, which the vendor accepts by performing or in writing.

An RFQ can be as simple as a price request or as detailed as an RFP, with a technical volume, past performance and evaluation criteria. The rules for evaluating it are usually lighter than under FAR Part 15.

Follow the instructions exactly, quote against the specified items or labor categories, confirm delivery or performance terms, and answer every evaluation element the RFQ names. For schedule RFQs, quote only what is on your schedule contract. Missing a required item or certification is the most common way to be eliminated.

State and local governments use RFQs for smaller or well-defined purchases, often awarded on price. Some use the term for qualification requests instead, so read the document to see what it asks for.