What an RFQ is
A request for quotation is the short route for smaller purchases. Instead of advertising a full tender, evaluating it through committees and waiting months, the buyer asks for written price quotations and buys from the best one. For small and new suppliers RFQs are the usual way in: on 18 October 2026 there were 1,038 RFQs open on eTenders alone.
The limits
For municipalities the limits are in the Municipal Supply Chain Management Regulations, as amended in December 2023 (GN 4198):
| Buyer | Formal written price quotations | Competitive bidding |
|---|---|---|
| Local municipality | R2,000 to R300,000 | above R300,000 |
| District municipality | R2,000 to R200,000 | above R200,000 |
| Metropolitan municipality | R2,000 to R750,000 | above R750,000 |
All amounts include VAT. A municipality may still choose a full competitive bid below those limits. National and provincial departments and public entities follow National Treasury's PFMA SCM Instruction No. 02 of 2021/22 on threshold values for petty cash, quotations and competitive bids; the RFQ itself states which applies.
Where RFQs appear
- eTenders. Many buyers publish RFQs on National Treasury's portal alongside tenders. Awardee lists every one, daily.
- The buyer's website and notice board. A municipal quotation above R30,000 must be advertised for at least seven days on the municipality's website and an official notice board.
- Directly from the supplier list. Municipalities keep lists of accredited suppliers for quotations, must invite new suppliers at least once a year, update the list at least every quarter and accept applications at any time. Being on the list means you can be asked even when nothing is advertised.
How to win them
- Be ready before the RFQ arrives. Register on the CSD, keep your tax status compliant and join the supplier list of each municipality you want to work for.
- Price to the market. Price is worth 80 of 100 points on most RFQs. On the bid lists Awardee has checked, the highest bid is usually more than twice the lowest, so knowing the going rate matters more than anything else. See what bidders charged.
- Claim your specific-goal points. The remaining 20 points go to the specific goals the buyer names in the RFQ; fill in the preference points claim form (SBD 6.1 or MBD 6.1) with proof. See how points are scored.
- Answer on time and complete. Late or incomplete quotations are rejected. Use the buyer's forms, sign them, and keep proof of submission.
Questions
What does RFQ stand for?
Request for quotation. A government buyer asks suppliers for written price quotations on a smaller job instead of running a full competitive tender.
Up to what value can a municipality use quotations?
Since the 2023 amendment to the Municipal Supply Chain Management Regulations: up to R300,000 for a local municipality, R200,000 for a district municipality and R750,000 for a metro, VAT included. Above those amounts the municipality must run a competitive bid.
Where are municipal RFQs advertised?
Quotations above R30,000 must be advertised for at least seven days on the municipality’s website and official notice board. Many also appear on eTenders, but not all, so check the buyer’s own website too.
How many RFQs are open now?
1,038 requests for quotation were open on eTenders on 18 October 2026, out of 2,799 open tenders.
How are RFQs scored?
Like tenders: price plus points for specific goals under the Preferential Procurement Regulations, 2022. Up to R50 million that is 80 points for price and 20 for specific goals.
Sources
- Municipal Supply Chain Management Regulations, GN 868 of 2005, regulations 12, 14, 17 and 18
- Amendment of the Municipal Supply Chain Management Regulations, GN 4198, Government Gazette 49863 (December 2023)
- Preferential Procurement Regulations, 2022, Government Gazette 47452 (4 November 2022), in force 16 January 2023
- National Treasury, PFMA SCM Instruction No. 02 of 2021/22: threshold values for petty cash, written price quotations and competitive bids (amended 17 January 2024)
- eTenders open tender count, read by Awardee on 18 October 2026
Awardee is an independent service, not a government website. This guide explains the rules in plain language; the gazetted text and the tender documents are what bind you.