What do EOI, RFQ, RFP and RFB mean in a tender notice?
They are four ways of asking the market for something. The label tells you how much work the offer will take and how the winner is chosen.
A request for expressions of interest, EOI, is a first filter. The buyer asks firms to show their experience, then invites a shortlist to submit full proposals. It is the normal route for consulting work.
A request for quotations, RFQ, is for small, standard purchases. The buyer compares a few price quotes and takes the cheapest one that meets the specification. A request for bids, RFB, is the formal version for goods and construction: sealed bids, a bid security, and award to the lowest evaluated price. Older documents call it an invitation for bids.
A request for proposals, RFP, is used when the buyer cares about the solution as much as the price, for example a software platform or a design-and-build contract. Technical quality and price are both scored. A prequalification notice comes before a large RFB or RFP and only checks whether a firm is big and experienced enough to take part.
- Price only
- RFQ and RFB
- Quality and price
- RFP, and consultant selection after an EOI
Explainers describe how things generally work. They are not advice for a specific project or country. See our editorial policy.