Process
Solicitation
The complete package of documents inviting bids, including the requirement, terms and evaluation method.
A solicitation is the full set of documents a buyer publishes to invite bids — the statement of work or requirement, the resulting contract clauses, bid preparation instructions, evaluation criteria and any attachments or drawings.
The word is often used loosely as a synonym for the notice, but the distinction matters: the notice is the advertisement, while the solicitation is the binding document set. Anything that governs the competition is in the solicitation, and the notice alone is never enough to bid from.
Related terms
- AddendumA formal change to a published solicitation, which bidders must acknowledge and incorporate.
- Closing DateThe deadline for bid submission, enforced strictly and specified with a time and time zone.
- Evaluation CriteriaThe published basis on which bids will be assessed and compared, including how technical merit and price are combined.
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.