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Glossary

What is a request for information?

A request for information (RFI) is a formal questionnaire that collects written information about suppliers' capabilities in a format that can be compared.

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What it is used for

A request for information is usually the first and broadest set of questions in a sourcing process. Buyers use it to learn what the market offers, gather basic facts about suppliers' products and services, and collect ideas for how a need could be met. It is a planning tool, not a request for binding offers.

What it usually asks

  • Company background, size and experience.
  • Products, services and capabilities.
  • Relevant customers and references.
  • Approach to the buyer's need, at a high level.
  • Indicative cost drivers, without binding prices.

How it fits with other requests

The answers help narrow the field. Suppliers that fit are then invited to a request for proposal or request for quotation, where they make firm offers. Read how the three requests differ.

How Aavenir handles it

RFPflow builds requests for information from templates, collects answers in a structured format and shortlists suppliers for the next stage, all on one sourcing record.

Keep reading

Request for proposal A request for proposal asks suppliers to propose how they would meet a need, and at what cost.Read more Request for supplier qualification A request for supplier qualification gathers suppliers' credentials to decide who is qualified to bid.Read more Response to questionnaire A response to questionnaire is a supplier's set of answers to the questions a buyer asks during sourcing.Read more

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

Common questions

When should you use a request for information?

When you are still learning about the market or the solutions available, before you can write a detailed specification. It helps shape the later request for proposal. Read about request for proposal.

Is a request for information binding?

No. It gathers information for planning. Suppliers are not making offers, and the buyer is not committing to buy. Binding offers come in a later request for proposal or quotation. Read about request for quotation.

How many questions should a request for information include?

Enough to decide which suppliers to invite further, and no more. Long questionnaires discourage responses. Focus on what will actually separate suppliers. A short, focused list usually draws better answers than a long one. Read about responses to questionnaires.

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See your contracts run on one record.

  • 1 A 30 minute walkthrough Built around your team, whether that is procurement, legal, IT or finance.
  • 2 Your contracts, not ours Bring a few sample agreements and watch Aavenir AI extract and review them.
  • 3 ServiceNow or standalone We show the deployment that fits the systems you already run.

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