How to Write a Request For Quote (RFQ) – Free Templates

A request for quote (RFQ) is a type of solicitation where an organization requests a quote from a vendor for the purchase of specific products or services.

RFQs are usually issued when an organization is seeking to buy high-value products or services and wants to ensure that it gets the best possible deal.

When issuing an RFQ, the organization will typically specify the product or service that it wishes to purchase, as well as any other pertinent information such as quantity, delivery date, and so on. The vendor will then use this information to prepare a quote for the organization.

Quotes are usually based on the price of the product or service but can also take other factors into account, such as discounts, delivery charges, and so on. Following a review of the quotes, the organization will select the one that, in their opinion, provides the best value for their requirements.

RFQs are a common method of procurement in many industries and can be an effective way to get the best possible deal on high-value products or services.

Templates for You

Free Printable Request for Quote Template 01 for Word Document

Great Downloadable State of Kansas Request for Quotation Template for Word Format

Great Downloadable University of Illinois Request for Quotation Template for Word Format

Great Downloadable Form 5 Request for Quotation Template for Word Format

Great Downloadable Magic Precision Request for Quotation Template for Word Format

Free Printable Request for Quote Template 02 for Word Document

Great Editable Request for Quote Form 01 for Word Format

Great Downloadable Photographer Request for Quotation Template for Word Format

Great Downloadable Canada Request for Quotation Template for Word Format

Free Printable Request for Quote Template 03 for Word Document

Great Editable Request for Quote Form 02 for Word Format

Great Downloadable Department of Veteran affairs Request for Quotation Template for Word Format

Great Editable Request for Quote Form 03 for Word Format

Great Editable Request for Quote Form 04 for Word Format

Great Editable Request for Quote Form 05 for Word Format

Great Downloadable Tooling Request for Quotation Template for Word Format

    Free Customizable Request for Quotation Template 04 as Excel Sheet

    Free Customizable Request for Quotation Price List Template as Excel Sheet

      How to Request for Quote?

      There could be many reasons why you need to request a quote. For example, you may need to request a quote for a car, insurance, catering services, etc.

      Requesting quotes is usually a simple process. You can request a quote by contacting the vendor directly and asking them for one or by filling out a form on their website.

      You will need to provide some basic information, such as your name, contact details, and the product or service that you are interested in. The vendor will then use this information to prepare a quote for you.

      Details about some specific quotes are discussed in the following sections:

      Request a car price quote

      A variety of factors determine the price of a car. The vehicle’s age is crucial, as are the type, mileage, and condition. The price of a car bought from a dealer varies according to the extra features of the car.

      You must obtain all of the vehicle’s features to obtain a quote for a used automobile. A quote for a used car might contain the following information: model, year, mileage, general condition, license and registration verification, and price.

      Request a quote for insurance

      A price quotation can be requested for insurance as well. You may secure your automobile and your house or get life insurance for yourself and your family by using insurance policies. To obtain a quote for any type of insurance, you must first determine which type you require.

      Different types of insurance need varying amounts of information to obtain a quote. It does not need to be difficult, but you must know exactly what type of insurance you need and the information that is required to help the service provider give a suitable quote.

      For life insurance, for example, a quote will be given after considering your health history, including any recent illnesses, medical procedures, or ongoing impairments, as well as your current health and insurance goals and your income and assets.

      Request for Quote for Catering Service

      Caterers can provide services for a variety of events, including birthdays, weddings, meetings, and parties. Caterers provide food for a large number of people and may serve different sorts of meals depending on the situation. Catering options include vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, and allergy-friendly options.

      The catering service will want to know some details, such as the date and time of the event, as well as any potential limitations, such as dietary or allergic restrictions. Furthermore, you must inform the catering company of the location of the event, the type of event, the number of attendees, the cuisine that you want to be served, whether drinks or beverages will be provided, and whether a children’s menu is required.

      Fill out a contact form and include as much information about the event as possible to receive the best possible quote.

      Request for Quotation vs Request for Proposal

      A quotation and a proposal are two distinct things. A request for a quotation is made when the business already knows the service or product they are seeking. A request for proposals (RFP) is issued by a business when it is unsure of what it wants and asks vendors to submit proposals to address a particular issue. In both cases, specific items or services may be requested.

      To request a quotation, you are inquiring about the pricing of various items. This implies that you or your company want to buy these items in the future. You must first decide which goods or services you want to receive a quote for.

      You are not asking the firm to collaborate with you if you ask for a quote. This simply implies that you would want to learn more about their costs. If you choose a different company and do not utilize any of the services for which you requested a quotation, you will not be charged.

      When you ask for a bid or make an offer to a firm yourself, you are essentially asking them to work with you or change their rates. To propose implies both suggesting and offering. If you believe that one firm could offer your products or services for a cheaper price while also benefiting from it, then you will create a proposal.

      Frequently, businesses collaborate under a variety of arrangements. One firm may request the goods from another company at a cheaper price for construction. However, the same items might be purchased at different prices for another project.

      If a firm makes a good offer for its product or services, it will get more clients and be able to form long-term partnerships with many businesses. 

      When you request a proposal, you inquire about the services that the company can offer to collaborate with you. Many companies are interested in collaborating with other businesses and submit proposals to choose which companies to work with. Requesting a proposal implies that you want the company to recommend the best solution to a specific problem.

      The Request for Quotation Process

      There are seven steps that make up the RFQ process. They are preparing the RFQ document, defining the vendor or supplier list, sending out the RFQ, receiving responses, analyzing the results, choosing the successful supplier vendor, notifying and advising unsuccessful bidders, and finally closing on the final contract.

      We have provided more details on each step below:

      Step 1: Prepare the RFQ document

      To prepare an RFQ document, you will need a description of the goods or services you need, the exact quantity of goods or services you need, the delivery date or time-frame for the project, any special requirements for the project, and finally, a clearly stated budget for the project.

      Step 2: Define the vendor or supplier list

      When defining the vendor or supplier list for an RFQ document, you will want to consider a few factors. First, you will want to make sure that the potential vendors or suppliers are qualified to provide the goods or services you need. This qualification can be based on previous experience, licenses, or certifications they may hold, or other measures of their ability to do the job.

      Price is not the only factor to consider when compiling a vendor or supplier list for an RFQ document. While you may be able to find qualified and willing vendors or suppliers quoting a lower price, it is important to make sure that they are still able to meet your quality and delivery requirements.

      Step 3: Send out request for quote

      When you are ready to send out your RFQ document, there are a few things you will need to include in it. Include a clear and concise description of the goods or services you are requesting. This description should be specific enough that potential vendors or suppliers can understand exactly what you are looking for.

      Step 4: Receive responses and analyze results

      After you have sent out your RFQ document, you will need to wait for responses from potential vendors or suppliers. You must spend some time reviewing and contrasting the responses once you have gotten them all.

      You should take into account the credentials of potential vendors or suppliers, their prices, and their reputations when examining and contrasting the responses. You will also want to make sure that they can meet your delivery requirements.

      Step 5: Choose a successful vendor or supplier

      After you have reviewed and compared all of the offers, you will choose the vendor that is most suitable for your needs. Based on the vendor or supplier’s credentials, reputation, and price, a choice should be made. You will also want to make sure that they can meet your delivery requirements.

      Step 6: Notify and provide feedback to the unsuccessful bidders

      Once the winning supplier has been chosen, the unsuccessful bidders must be notified and given feedback. This notification can be made via email, phone, or letter. You will want to thank them for their time and effort and let them know that another vendor or supplier has been chosen for the project.

      Step 7: Close the final contract

      After notifying the unsuccessful bidders, you must finalize the contract with the selected supplier or vendor. This contract should include the terms and conditions of the project as well as the price. Once both parties have signed the contract, it is considered binding.

      Contents of the Request for Quotation Document

      An RFQ document’s basic elements include an executive summary, project requirements, submission deadlines, contract requirements, pricing information, project timelines, contact information, and the criteria used for selection.

      Executive summary and project requirements

      The project requirements are included in the executive summary, which is a concise summary of the RFQ document. This section should be clear and succinct, and it should offer a summary of the project so that potential suppliers or vendors can assess whether they can meet your needs. The project requirements section should contain a full description of the products or services you want, as well as the quantity and when you need them.

      Submission deadline and contract requirements

      This section should contain any other contractual terms that prospective vendors or suppliers should be aware of, the deadline for submitting responses to the RFQ, and other information.

      Pricing details

      The pricing details section should include a breakdown of the prices for the items or services you are looking for, as well as any discount or incentive programs that are available. 

      Project timeline

      A project timeline and any necessary milestones should be included in the schedule section. If you are hiring someone to do a service for you, make sure you know how long the contract will last and when it will end. Be specific about the delivery time, especially if you expect them right away.

      Contact details

      The contact information section should include the name, job title, and relevant contact information of the person in charge of the RFQ. Clearly state any additional information that bidders may want to know. If you have already done so, include your FAQ document with the RFQ as well.

      Selection criteria

      The section on selection criteria should include the standards used to assess RFQ responses. Be transparent about how long it will take you to choose the winning bidder. Although price is frequently the deciding factor, you should let bidders know in advance if there are any other considerations you plan to make.

      Special Considerations

      There are a few unique factors that should be taken into account when requesting a quote:

      •  Make sure the RFQ is clear and concise. The more information you can provide, the better.
      •  Make sure the deadline for responses is realistic. Give potential vendors or suppliers enough time to prepare a response.
      •  Make sure the selection criteria are fair and objective. Be clear about what you are looking for and how responses will be evaluated.
      •   Be prepared to negotiate. Once you receive responses, you may need to negotiate with potential vendors or suppliers to get the best price or terms.

      Final Thoughts

      A request for quotation, also known as an RFQ, is a document used to request quotes from suppliers or vendors. The RFQ should be clear and concise, with all pertinent information about the project included, including submission dates and contract documents, pricing information, project timelines, contact details, and selection criteria.

      In order to achieve the best results and efficiency throughout the entire process, it is imperative that these documents be completed correctly and that all communication channels are as open as possible. We understand that this process can be daunting and time-consuming. This is why our request-to-quote template might be useful to our readers since it can significantly reduce the time and effort required to create their RFQ documents.

      About This Article

      Michael R. Lewis
      Authored by:
      Business Writing | BBA, Industrial Management
      Michael R. Lewis is a retired corporate executive, entrepreneur, and investment advisor based in Texas. With over 40 years of experience in business and finance, he has gained valuable insights and expertise in the field. Michael served as a Vice President for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas, where he played a pivotal role in driving organizational success and growth. Known for his exceptional business writing skills, he has become an authority in effectively communicating complex concepts to diverse audiences. His extensive knowledge and experience make him a sought-after advisor for businesses seeking guidance in strategic decision-making, financial planning, and overall business operations. Michael holds a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) degree in Industrial Management from the prestigious University of Texas at Austin.

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