Is FedBid a Request for Quote (RFQ) System?
FedBid is not a quote-based system. Under the FAR, a “quote” is not an offer, and is, therefore, non-binding on the seller. Under the FedBid Terms of Use, which have been approved by the federal government and are specifically referenced in FedBid’s GSA Schedule, all bids submitted through FedBid are binding offers. In addition to being generally permitted under FAR 1.102 and specifically permitted under FAR 13.003(g), which allows for “any appropriate combination” of certain named FAR Parts, including FAR 14 (solely with respect to the concept of binding “bids”) for simplified acquisitions, FedBid’s system requires bids to be binding offers for a 2 primary reasons: i) Buyers must be able to have confidence that each Seller is able to deliver according to its bid in order to ensure as efficient a procurement process as possible; and ii) Sellers must be able to bid with confidence that their bids are not being unfairly driven down by competitors that have no intent to deliver; in order
