Buyers may request bids, quotes, tenders or proposals orally, in writing, or electronically through procurement documents generally called:

In procurement and contract management, a "solicitation" is the formal, overarching term for any document or process used by a buyer to request offers from potential sellers. This includes various types of requests such as an Invitation for Bids (IFB), Request for Quotations (RFQ), Request for Tenders (RFT), or Request for Proposals (RFP). The solicitation document outlines the buyer's requirements, terms, and conditions, and invites suppliers to respond with their respective offers. It is the primary instrument for initiating a competitive procurement action, regardless of the communication medium (oral, written, or electronic).

B. Screening system: This is a process or methodology used to evaluate and filter supplier responses after they are received, not the initial request document.

C. Evacuators: This term is entirely unrelated to procurement; it refers to devices used for removal or extraction.

D. Legislation: This refers to the laws and regulations that govern the procurement process, not the specific document used to request bids or proposals.

1. National Contract Management Association (NCMA). (2019). Contract Management Body of Knowledge (CMBOK) (6th ed.). Section 2.2, "Solicit Offers," p. 101. This section details the process of developing and issuing solicitations to obtain bids and proposals from prospective sellers.

2. U.S. General Services Administration. (2023). Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR). Part 2, Section 2.101, "Definitions." The FAR, a foundational document in U.S. public contracting, defines "Solicitation" as "any request to submit offers or quotations to the Government."

3. Rendon, R. G. (2015). Contract management organizational assessment tools. Journal of Contract Management, 13(1), 43-63. This academic journal, published by the NCMA, consistently uses the term "solicitation" to refer to the pre-award phase of requesting proposals from industry.