What Is an RFQ?

It refers to a procurement method in which the purchaser sends a quotation to the relevant supplier to make a quotation, compares them based on the quotation, and determines the best supplier. Inquiry is an important part of the bidding process. It helps bidders optimize their bids and provide a basis for bidding decisions. The contractor's inquiry is an intentional act, and it is not necessary to sign a subcontract with the subcontractor for the inquiry. And the quotation of the subcontractor who receives the inquiry does not have to be the contract price of a future subcontract. However, the parties to the inquiry should generally respect credibility and professional ethics. ^[1]

Inquiry

Broadly interpreted inquiry refers to obtaining accurate price information in order to

According to the narrow interpretation of the price pass, the inquiry specifically refers to a government procurement method, that is, inquiry procurement, which refers to the inquiry team, according to the needs of the purchaser, to identify not less than three suppliers from the suppliers that meet the corresponding qualifications and to It sends out a quotation for its quotation, and the supplier submits a quotation that cannot be changed at a time, and then the inquiry group compares the quotation based on the quotation and determines a procurement method for the supplier. The procedure is as follows: ^[2]

(1) Procurement budget and application: The purchaser compiles the procurement budget, fills out the procurement application form and puts forward the reason for using the inquiry, and submits it to the financial procurement management department after review by the superior authority.

(2) Procurement approval: The competent financial administrative department determines the procurement method of inquiry according to the procurement project and related regulations, and determines the procurement route-whether it is entrusted procurement or self-procurement.

(3) Selection of agency: The procedure is the same as that of public bidding.

(4) Formation of inquiry team: Inquiry experts should be randomly selected, which is different from bidding procurement. The inquiry group consists of a singular number of three or more representatives of the purchaser and relevant experts, and the number of experts shall not be less than two-thirds of the total number of members.

(5) Preparation of the inquiry document: The inquiry document should stipulate the price composition of procurement items and the criteria for evaluating transactions.

(6) Determine the list of suppliers to be queried: The quotation team will determine no less than three suppliers from the list of suppliers that meet the corresponding qualifications according to procurement requirements, and issue a notice of inquiry to them. In order to invite more qualified suppliers to participate in the quotation, an inquiry document can be published through the network.

(7) Inquiry: The inquiry team requires the supplier being quoted to quote a price that cannot be changed within a specified time.

(8) Confirmation of transaction suppliers: According to the principle of meeting procurement requirements, equal quality and service, and the lowest quotation, determine the transaction suppliers, and notify all the transaction suppliers that have been queried.

(9) Publicity of evaluation results: The content of publicity includes the list of suppliers that have completed the transaction, the quotations of each supplier, and the list of inquiry experts.

(10) Issuing the transaction notice: If there is no objection to the expiration of the publicity period, the transaction notice should be issued immediately, so as to ensure the efficiency of the inquiry.

Scope of application: This method can be adopted according to law for government procurement projects where the price and standard of the purchased goods are uniform, the spot supply is sufficient, and the price changes are small. ^[2]