A request for quotation (RFQ) is sent to a supplier to request pricing and other information for an item or items. A quotation is the supplier's response to that RFQ. Some examples of how you send an RFQ to a supplier include creating an RFQ in the RFQs window and sending it by facsimile, making a phone call, or using Oracle iSupplier Portal. One way a supplier can send a quotation, whether or not in response to an RFQ, is through the Purchasing Documents Open Interface. (See: Receiving Price/Sales Catalog Information Electronically.) If you don't receive quotations electronically from your supplier, you can create the quotation manually using the Quotations window, or copy the quotation from an RFQ. (See: Copying Quotations from RFQs.)
Purchasing lets you use your quotation information when you build purchase orders.
When you create a purchase order (manually or from requisitions), you can use the Supplier Item Catalog window to retrieve quotation information. (The Supplier Item Catalog window can include quotations sent to you by your supplier through the Purchasing Documents Open Interface. See: Receiving Price/Sales Catalog Information Electronically.) Purchasing provides all your approved quotation shipment information for a specific item or manufacturing category. You can copy this quotation shipment to an existing blanket purchase agreement or standard purchase order when you add this item or purchasing category to a purchase order line. You can sort this quotation information according to your needs, using criteria such as price or quantity. You can easily evaluate the source that is best for an item.
After you select the quotation shipment you want to use, Purchasing copies the item unit price, quantity, unit of measure, supplier product number, inspection required status, receipt required status, quotation number, quotation type, and supplier quotation number on your purchase order.
Purchasing automatically warns you when the terms and conditions of the quotation are different from the terms and conditions of your purchase order. The original purchase order terms and conditions remain unchanged.
When you enter an item or purchasing category on a requisition line, you can use the Supplier Item Catalog window to access quotation shipment information for the item or category. After you select the quotation shipment you want to use, Purchasing automatically copies the item unit price, quantity, unit of measure, supplier product number, supplier name, supplier site, and supplier contact to your requisition line. Purchasing also copies the quotation item description on your purchase order if you define your items to do so.
There are three types of quotations and RFQs that come with Purchasing by default:
Catalog: Used for high-volume items or items for which your supplier sends you information regularly. A Catalog quotation or RFQ also includes price breaks at different quantity levels.
Standard: Used for items you'll need only once or not very often, but not necessarily for a specific, fixed quantity, location, and date. For example, you could use a Catalog quotation or RFQ for office supplies, but use a Standard quotation or RFQ for a special type of pen you don't order very often. A Standard quotation or RFQ also includes price breaks at different quantity levels.
Bid: Used for a specific, fixed quantity, location, and date. For example, a Bid would be used for a large or expensive piece of equipment that you've never ordered before, or for an item that incurs transportation or other special costs. You cannot specify price breaks for a Bid quotation or RFQ.
For all three types, you can define effectivity dates at the header level. For Catalog and Standard quotations, you can also specify effectivity dates for individual price breaks. (For a Bid, you cannot specify effectivity dates at the shipment level.)
You can also define your own RFQ or quotation types using the Document Types window. See: Defining Document Types.
For advanced features in RFQs and quotations, please refer to the Oracle Sourcing Implementation and Administration Guide.