The RFI, RFP, and RFQ are documents and forms of communication between a buying and a selling organization. A request for information (RFI) is issued before an RFP and is designed to educate the business interested in purchasing something. Doing so allows you to cast a wide net and engage with many suppliers, weeding out unsuitable ones early on in the process. A request for proposal (RFP) is a detailed analysis of the vendor’s business, offerings, capabilities, features, costs, and more. This is essentially a vendor evaluation. Top-scoring vendors are invited to submit bids, issue an RFQ, participate in negotiations or further communication. A request for quote (RFQ) is usually issued after an RFP but can be also issued in its place, depending on the type of goods and services sold. This is where the buyer is considering purchasing and wants to request pricing.