What is Solicitation?
A formal request issued by a federal agency inviting businesses to submit proposals or bids for a contract.
A solicitation is a formal document issued by a government contracting officer that describes the government's requirements and invites businesses to submit proposals or bids. Solicitations are the primary mechanism through which the government procures goods and services.
Common solicitation types include Request for Proposal (RFP, used for negotiated procurements where technical evaluation matters), Request for Quotation (RFQ, used for simpler commercial items where price is the primary factor), and Invitation for Bid (IFB, used for sealed bidding where the lowest responsive bid wins).
Solicitations are posted on SAM.gov and include the statement of work, evaluation criteria, contract terms, NAICS code, set-aside status, and submission deadline. Responding to a solicitation typically requires submitting technical and price volumes within the specified deadline.
Related Terms
A solicitation type used when the government wants to evaluate technical approaches and past performance alongside price.
RFQ (Request for Quotation)A solicitation type used for straightforward purchases where the government requests price quotes from vendors.
SAM.govThe System for Award Management — the official U.S. government website where businesses register to bid on federal contracts and where agencies post opportunities.