RFQ Logistik
Also: Request for Quotation, RFQ, Angebotsanfrage, Preisanfrage Logistik, Ausschreibung Preisanfrage
AI-generated
RFQ (Request for Quotation) refers in logistics to the structured solicitation of binding price quotations from potential service providers or suppliers. It requires that the scope of services, volume structures, and requirements are already clearly defined.
Key facts
- RFQ stands for Request for Quotation and solicits binding price quotations on the basis of a clearly defined service description.
- Unlike an RFP, an RFQ focuses on price comparison rather than the evaluation of solution concepts.
- The comparability of quotations depends directly on the completeness and clarity of the service description.
- Typical contents include volume structures, transport lanes, price sheets, surcharge frameworks, and required service levels.
- In logistics, an RFQ is widely used in both transport procurement and the awarding of warehousing and fulfillment services.
What is an RFQ in logistics?
RFQ stands for Request for Quotation and refers to the formal request to vendors to submit a binding price quotation for clearly defined services. In intralogistics and transport procurement, an RFQ is used when requirements can already be described in sufficient detail — for example, for defined transport lanes, warehousing services, picking capacities, or individual system modules. Its core purpose is to enable price comparability: all vendors approached calculate on the basis of the same service description, allowing offers to be directly compared.
How does an RFQ work in practice?
An RFQ begins with the preparation of a detailed service description. This typically includes:
- Volume structures and shipment profiles (weights, volumes, frequencies)
- Transport lanes or warehouse locations
- Scope of services and explicit exclusions
- Price sheets with line items for base services, surcharges, and indexation rules
- Required service levels and KPIs
- Contract durations and options
The service providers approached complete the predefined price sheets and submit their quotations by the specified deadline. Procurement then evaluates the offers against predetermined criteria — primarily price, but also completeness and plausibility of the calculation. The initial round of quotations is frequently followed by negotiation rounds or a Best-and-Final-Offer step.
RFQ, RFP, and RFI – distinctions and selection
In practice, RFQ, RFP (Request for Proposal), and RFI (Request for Information) are often confused or conflated. An RFI serves market intelligence purposes and clarifies which vendors are fundamentally suitable. An RFP is used when, in addition to price, the solution concept, approach, and vendor capability are also to be evaluated — typical for complex automation projects or the selection of a new 3PL partner. An RFQ, by contrast, is appropriate when the service is standardized or already described in detail and price is the decisive comparison criterion.
What matters in an RFQ?
The quality of an RFQ stands or falls with the completeness of the service description. Unclear volume structures or missing information on special cases cause vendors to make different assumptions, rendering the quotations incomparable. In addition, the price sheet should be structured so that all relevant cost items are shown separately — lump-sum total prices make subsequent negotiations and contract adjustments more difficult. The degree to which a quotation submitted in response to an RFQ is actually binding also varies by vendor; this should be clarified in writing in advance.
Related terms
- 3PL
3PL (Third Party Logistics) refers to the outsourcing of operational logistics processes – such as warehousing, order picking, or transportation – to an external service provider. The company retains strategic responsibility, while the 3PL vendor handles operational execution.
- 4PL - Fourth Party Logistics
4PL (Fourth Party Logistics) refers to a logistics model in which an external partner coordinates the entire supply chain and manages multiple 3PL providers and carriers without performing any physical transport or warehousing services itself.
- Ausschreibungsmanagement Logistik
Logistics tender management refers to the structured overall process by which companies solicit bids for logistics services or systems on the market, make offers comparable, and prepare a well-founded award decision.
- Beschaffung
Procurement refers to the systematic process by which a company sources materials, goods, and services from external suppliers. It encompasses all steps from requirements identification through vendor selection to order placement and goods receipt monitoring.
- Carrier
A carrier is a transport service provider that physically moves goods from a point of origin to a destination. It assumes operational responsibility for the actual transport – as opposed to freight forwarders or logistics service providers, who often only coordinate.
- Cost-to-Serve
Cost-to-Serve refers to the total costs incurred to fully serve a specific customer, customer segment, or order. The metric consolidates all relevant cost components along the order fulfillment process and enables cause-based cost allocation.
- Distributionslogistik
Distribution logistics encompasses all processes that move goods from the manufacturer or warehouse to the end customer – from network planning through storage and transportation to order fulfillment.