What is RFI (Request for Information)?
Used to understand supplier capability, market options or qualification fit.
Definition
A Request for Information gathers market intelligence before a sourcing decision is framed. It is not a purchase instrument: no award follows, and suppliers understand it as qualification and discovery.
How it works in practice
Before sourcing a new category, a buyer issues an RFI to twelve potential suppliers covering capability, capacity, certifications and reference work. The responses shape both the shortlist and the specification that the eventual RFQ will use.
Why it matters
Skipping the RFI stage in an unfamiliar category is a common cause of a well-run event on the wrong supplier list. It is also how a credible alternative gets qualified before it is needed.
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