Frequently Asked Questions:
What is RFPW?
RFPW stands for rfpworld. It is a free (FOR NOW) online service for purchasing and procurement decision makers in small to medium size enterprises to list an RFP, RFQ or RFI for projects or supply requirements.
What is an RFP?
A Request for Proposal (referred to as RFP) is an invitation for suppliers, through a bidding process, to submit a proposal on a specific commodity or service. A bidding process is one of the best methods for leveraging a company's negotiating ability and purchasing power with suppliers. The Request process brings structure to the procurement decision and allows the risks and benefits to be identified clearly upfront.
What is an RFI?
A Request for Information (referred to as RFI) is a standard business process whose purpose is to collect written information about the capabilities of various suppliers. Normally it follows a format that can be used for comparative purposes.
What is an RFQ?
A Request for Quotation (referred to as RFQ) is a standard business process whose purpose is to invite suppliers into a bidding process to bid on specific products and/or services. An RFQ typically involves more than the price per item. Information like payment terms, quality level per item or contract length are possible to be requested during the bidding process. To receive correct quotes, RFQs often include the specifications of the items/services to make sure all the suppliers are bidding on the same item/service. Logically, the more detailed the specifications, the better the quote will be accurate and comparable to other suppliers. The suppliers have to return the bidding by a set date and time to be considered for an award. Discussions may be held on the bids (often to clarify technical capabilities or to note errors in a proposal). The bid does not have to mean the end of the bidding. Multiple rounds can follow or even a Reverse auction can follow to generate the best market price. Request For Quotation allows different contractors to give the quotation and among that the best quote will be taken.
How does RFPW work?
We have designed the site to give purchasing professionals and suppliers a worldwide reach for their projects or service offerings. Only designated purchasers or suppliers are invited to register and use this site. Purchasers (otherwise known as project listers) can register and begin posting projects immediately. Suppliers (otherwise known as a bidder) can register and begin searching for projects they want to bid on. We have listed 14 main catagories and 79 sub catagories to either list or search for projects to bid on.
How is RFPW different from other sites offering a similar service?
There are 3 ways we're different:
1. we have a worldwide reach
2. we do not scour the internet or other media sources to populate our database
3. we have designed our site to be simple for the busy purchasing professional
Does RFPW search for RFP's?
No.
How many companies use RFPW?
We are new, but we want to do a good job. Our core business focus is to help the busy purchasing professional attract competitive bids for projects or supply requirements. Conversely we also want to provide an online open and tansparent service for service professionals to find projects.
How much does RFPW cost?
RFPW is completely free right now. We plan to begin charging a small fee in the near future to recover some costs for our online service offering.
How do I sign up?
Signing up to RFPW is quick and easy. Only an email address and password are required. Click here to Register. Registering with RFPW allows purchasing professionals to post an RFP, RFI or RFQ. Suppliers are invited to register at any time to search the database for listed projects or supply requests. Once you register with RFPW, a validation email is sent to you. Reply to that and your account will be validated.
What is the technology behind RFPW?
RFPW proudly uses and supports the following open source software:
Linux
Apache web server
Mysql Database
PHP Programming Language
Qmail
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