Government Procurement Glossary
Plain-English definitions for the abbreviations, programs, and procurement methods you encounter in federal, state, and local contracting. Each term links to a fuller explanation and live bids that mention it.
Solicitation Types
Invitation for Bid (IFB)
A sealed-bid solicitation where award goes to the lowest responsible bidder meeting the agency's specifications.
Request for Information (RFI)
A market-research solicitation — the agency asks vendors for information but does not yet plan to award a contract.
Request for Proposal (RFP)
A solicitation that asks vendors to propose how they would deliver a complex requirement — evaluation considers both price and technical approach.
Request for Quotation (RFQ)
A simpler solicitation that asks vendors for a price quote on a specific, well-defined product or service.