RFP vs RFQ
The four names describe genuinely different processes, and the difference decides whether you can win on anything other than price. Getting them confused is how firms spend a fortnight writing an approach nobody will read.
8,800
open federal solicitations right now, carrying all four notice types. The type is stated on every one, and it tells you before you start whether your effort should go into approach or into sharpening a price.
The short version
| RFP | How would you do it, and what does it cost? Approach and price both scored. |
| RFQ | What is your price for this exact thing? Specification already fixed. |
| RFI | Market research. No award follows, but it shapes the eventual requirement. |
| IFB | Sealed bidding. Lowest responsive, responsible bid wins outright. |
Why it changes what you do
On an RFP your technical approach can beat a cheaper rival, so effort spent writing is effort well spent. On an RFQ or an IFB it cannot, and the only questions that matter are whether you are compliant and whether your number is competitive. Writing a beautiful narrative for an IFB is wasted work.
The RFI is the one people ignore
No contract comes from an RFI or a sources sought notice, so most firms skip them. That is exactly why they matter. The requirement is still being written, and a response that describes your capability can influence the eventual scope and the NAICS code it is set aside under. By the time the RFP appears, those decisions are already made.
Questions people ask
What is the main difference between an RFP and an RFQ?
An RFP evaluates your approach alongside price. An RFQ asks only for a price against a specification that is already written.
Is an RFQ always awarded to the lowest price?
Usually, provided the quote is compliant and the supplier is responsible. There is little room to win on anything else.
Should I respond to an RFI?
Yes, if the work suits you. It is the one point where you can influence the requirement before it is fixed.
What is an IFB?
Invitation for bid, a sealed bidding process where the lowest responsive and responsible bid wins with no negotiation.
Which type is most common in federal contracting?
RFQs dominate by count because most purchases are small and simple. RFPs dominate by dollar value.
Related
What is an RFP? · RFP response template · Sources sought notices · Browse open solicitations