Solicitation types
Request for Information
Also known as: RFI
A market-research notice that gathers supplier input before a real solicitation. No contract is awarded.
A Request for Information is not a competition. The buyer is exploring what the market can deliver, what it costs, and whether its draft requirements are realistic. Responses inform a solicitation that may follow — or may not.
Suppliers sometimes dismiss RFIs because there is no contract at the end. That is usually a mistake. An RFI is the one point in the cycle where a supplier can influence requirements before they harden. If a draft specification contains a condition that unfairly narrows the field, the RFI is where to say so, and buyers frequently adjust in response.
Responding also signals capability to the buyer ahead of the real competition, and tells you a procurement is coming months before it is advertised.
In practice
A department is considering replacing a case-management system. It issues an RFI asking vendors about integration options, licensing models and realistic timelines, then uses the answers to write its RFP.
Related terms
See this term in a real tender
Search current federal opportunities and read a live notice with this definition in mind.
This definition describes general Canadian federal practice and is not legal advice. Always confirm requirements against the official solicitation.