Definition:

A request for information is a procurement solicitation published by a government organization, nonprofit or business that asks vendors to provide information about goods or services the organization may buy. When an organization publishes an RFI, it has some idea of what it wants, but it does not have a clear picture. The responses vendors provide give the organization a better idea of what is available in the marketplace.

These responses also help organizations as they compose more specific procurement solicitations like requests for proposal and invitations for bid.