Request for X (RFx)

When you're tracking federal procurement opportunities, you'll see "RFx" used as shorthand for the family of solicitation documents the government uses to buy everything from paper clips to fighter jets. The 'x' is a placeholder for different procurement methods—proposals, standing offers, supply arrangements—each with its own rules and purpose. Understanding which type you're dealing with matters because it determines how you bid, what commitments you're making, and how the evaluation works.

How It Works

According to the Supply Manual Chapter 5, the main solicitation types under the RFx umbrella include Request for Proposal (RFP), Invitation to Tender (ITT), Request for Standing Offer (RFSO), Request for Supply Arrangement (RFSA), plus supporting methods like Request for Information (RFI) and Request for Quotation (RFQ). Each serves a distinct function in the procurement toolkit.

Here's the thing: most competitive requirements above $25,000 for goods or $40,000 for services and construction get published on CanadaBuys using one of these solicitation types. An RFP lets you propose solutions when the government needs flexibility or innovation—think complex IT projects or professional services. An ITT? Much more rigid. It's used when specs are crystal clear and price is the deciding factor. RFSOs and RFSAs establish pre-qualified supplier lists for repetitive purchases, which speeds up subsequent buying without running a full competition each time.

In practice, all these documents share common requirements. DND's Procurement Administration Manual references PSPC's Supply Manual standards, requiring solicitations to include bidder instructions, bid preparation guidance, clear evaluation procedures, certification requirements, and any security or financial conditions. The evaluation criteria must be spelled out upfront—you can't change the rules mid-competition. When procurements exceed the Canada Free Trade Agreement threshold of $25,300 for goods, you'll see open RFPs instead of selective RFQs, ensuring broader access to opportunities.

Key Considerations

• Threshold differences matter: Goods are published at $25,000, but services and construction kick in at $40,000. Miss this distinction and you might overlook opportunities or misunderstand competition levels.

• Standing offers aren't contracts: An RFSO creates a list of pre-qualified suppliers, but doesn't guarantee any business. The government still issues individual call-ups against the standing offer when they actually need something.

• Evaluation methods vary by document type: ITTs typically use lowest compliant bid, while RFPs use rated criteria combining technical merit and price. Read the evaluation section carefully—it's not standardized across all RFx types.

• RFIs don't award contracts: They're market research tools. Responding to an RFI might position you well for the eventual solicitation, but it's not a bidding opportunity.

Related Terms

Request for Proposal (RFP), Invitation to Tender (ITT), Standing Offer, Supply Arrangement, CanadaBuys, Competitive Procurement, Contract Award, Solicitation

Sources

• Supply Manual - Chapter 5: Solicitation Methods and Contract Format

• CanadaBuys - Procurement Process

• Get to Know the Government of Canada Procurement Process (Canadian Chamber of Commerce)

When you see an RFx posted, your first step should be identifying which specific type it is and reading the evaluation criteria. That tells you everything about how to structure your response and what the government actually values in a winning bid.