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Request for Proposal vs Request for Quotation
Request for proposal vs request for quotation under the FAR: what each asks vendors for, whether a quote binds, and how both differ from sealed bidding.
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How do Request for proposal (RFP), Request for quotation (RFQ) compare side by side?
The table below compares Request for proposal (RFP), Request for quotation (RFQ) across 9 procurement-relevant dimensions, from where the far places it through source.
Side-by-side comparison
| Dimension | Request for proposal (RFP) | Request for quotation (RFQ) |
|---|---|---|
| Where the FAR places it | Negotiated acquisitions: RFPs communicate Government requirements to prospective contractors and solicit proposals (FAR 15.203(a)). | Solicitations for quotations, with the legal effect of a quotation set out in FAR 13.004 and award-basis rules in FAR 13.106-1. |
| What the vendor returns | A proposal. | A quotation. |
| What the buyer states up front | For competitive acquisitions, at minimum the requirement and the anticipated terms and conditions of the contract, plus the factors and significant subfactors used to evaluate proposals and their relative importance (FAR 15.203(a)). | The contracting officer notifies potential quoters of the basis on which award will be made, either price alone or price and other factors such as past performance and quality (FAR 13.106-1). |
| Evaluation basis and relative importance | Evaluation factors and significant subfactors must be stated "and their relative importance" (FAR 15.203(a)). | Best value is encouraged, and solicitations are not required to state the relative importance assigned to each evaluation factor and subfactor (FAR 13.106-1). |
| Legal effect of the vendor response | FAR 13.004 speaks only to quotations; it does not describe how an RFP response forms a contract. | A quotation is not an offer and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. The Government order is the offer; a contract is established when the supplier accepts it (FAR 13.004(a)). The Government may withdraw, amend or cancel its offer by written notice before acceptance (FAR 13.004(c)). |
| Can it go to one vendor? | See the sole source versus single source comparison for how single-vendor situations are treated. | At or below the simplified acquisition threshold, a single-source solicitation is permitted if only one source is reasonably available (FAR 13.106-1). |
| Relationship to sealed bidding (the formal bid or tender route) | A different route. Sealed bidding uses competitive bids, public opening and award, and bids are evaluated without discussions (FAR 14.101); RFPs belong to negotiated acquisitions. | Also a different route. Sealed bidding starts from an invitation for bids that must describe the requirement clearly, accurately and completely, and awards go to the responsible bidder on price and price-related factors (FAR 14.101); an RFQ is not that document. |
| When to pick each | When the requirement and the factors for weighing proposals need to be communicated and ranked by importance (FAR 15.203). | When you are soliciting quotations and award may rest on price alone or on price plus other stated factors (FAR 13.106-1). |
| Source | FAR 15.203, Requests for proposals, https://www.acquisition.gov/far/15.203 (read 2026-10-30); FAR 14.101, https://www.acquisition.gov/far/14.101 (read 2026-10-30). | FAR 13.004, Legal effect of quotations, https://www.acquisition.gov/far/13.004 (read 2026-10-30); FAR 13.106-1, https://www.acquisition.gov/far/13.106-1 (read 2026-10-30). |
Common questions
Common questions about Request for proposal (RFP) vs Request for quotation (RFQ)
Is a quotation binding?
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Not on the buyer. Under FAR 13.004(a) a quotation is not an offer and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. The Government order is the offer, and a contract is established when the supplier accepts it. Until then the Government may withdraw, amend or cancel its offer by written notice (FAR 13.004(c)). Other jurisdictions and private buyers may treat quotes differently, so check your own rules.
Is an RFQ the same as an invitation to bid?
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No. In the FAR, an invitation for bids belongs to sealed bidding (competitive bids, public opening, award; bids evaluated without discussions, FAR 14.101), while quotations are governed by FAR 13.004 and 13.106-1. Some vendor blogs use the terms as synonyms; the FAR keeps them separate.
What is the difference between a bid solicitation, a tender process and an RFP?
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The formal bid route in the FAR is sealed bidding: an invitation for bids, public opening and award to the responsible bidder on price and price-related factors (FAR 14.101). An RFP is used in negotiated acquisitions and must state evaluation factors and their relative importance (FAR 15.203). Which word an institution uses for its own process depends on its policy.
Can an RFQ be sent to only one vendor?
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At or below the simplified acquisition threshold, FAR 13.106-1 permits a single-source solicitation when only one source is reasonably available. The threshold figure is set out on the simplified acquisition threshold guide linked from this page.
Do RFPs have to say how proposals will be scored?
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For competitive federal acquisitions, yes: FAR 15.203 requires the RFP to state evaluation factors and significant subfactors and their relative importance. An RFQ under FAR 13.106-1 must tell quoters the basis of award, but need not state relative importance.
How does an RFI fit with an RFP and an RFQ?
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An RFI is a request for information, not a request for a proposal or a price. This page compares RFP and RFQ; the request for information template guide covers the RFI.
