§ Government Contracting Lexicon
Solicitation (RFP / RFQ / IFB).
A solicitation is the formal document by which the government seeks pricing or proposals: an RFP (Request for Proposals) for negotiated work, an RFQ (Request for Quotations) for simpler commercial buys, or an IFB (Invitation for Bids) for sealed, price-driven bidding.
§ 01 · Definition
What it means.
In practice, for a bidder.
This is the document you respond to in order to win work. For negotiated (RFP) buys it carries the instructions (Section L), the evaluation criteria (Section M), and the requirement (SOW or PWS); commercial buys use FAR Part 12 addenda instead. Note that a response to an RFQ is a quotation, not a binding offer: under FAR 13.004 the government’s resulting order is the offer.
§ 02 · In the wild
Find it live.
Active IT solicitations.
SAM.gov7 active solicitations in NAICS 541512, last 30 days, as of 2026-08-23. Each links to the government's own record.
AI Technologies for Procurement Modernization (Commercial Solutions Opening)
Dept. of Homeland Security · Solicitation · responses due 2026-08-27 ↗
Central Plant Computer System (CPCS) Maintenance
U.S. Air Force · Solicitation · Small business · responses due 2026-08-28 ↗
NMMC Standalone RFID Firearm Accountability System
U.S. Marine Corps · Solicitation · Small business · responses due 2026-09-09 ↗
§ 03 · Related
Related terms.
Words that travel together.
§ Have a live solicitation?
Send the solicitation.
We'll confirm the right NAICS, PSC, and set-aside for your scope.
§ Office of the Director
SAM.govUEI PR9KWJPM4JU9 · CAGE 91CE1