Understanding Requests for Quotes
Use the Event Workbench program (P43Q70) to create a request for quote (RFx). In addition to creating a new request for quote, you can also use one of the following methods:
Copy an existing RFI.
You can copy from RFI events at a status of RFI Reviewed only. The system copies the invited bidders and the header questions to create the new RFx. The system does not copy any invited bidders for which a value of D (disallow) or R (rejected) is in the Award Action field for the RFI.
Copy an existing request for quote (RFx).
You can copy from RFx events at a status of Awarded only. The system copies the invited bidders, header questions, selected event lines, and line questions to create the new RFx. The system does not copy any invited bidders for which a value of D (disallow) or R (rejected) is in the Award Action field for the RFI.
Copying a BOM.
The system copies the selected item components to create the event lines for the RFx.
Creating a request for quote is similar to creating a request for information: you define the event, invite bidders, and attach questions. However, a request for quote has the additional task of adding lines to the event. You can create lines for services, inventory items, and items that you add on an ad hoc basis.
For service lines, you enter the account number for the service. Using the processing options for the Create Event program (P43Q10), you can specify the format in which you enter the account number. You must use line type J when entering a service line.
When you create event lines for items, you specify information such as item number, quantity, unit of measure, and whether a bid is required on the event line. Using the Edit link in the Additional Line Info field, you can add attachments to the line and you can specify whether bidders must bid on the quantity that is specified on the line. If you allow bidders to bid on a quantity other than that specified in the line, you can define a minimum and maximum quantity.
You can also create event lines for ad hoc items, which are items that do not already exist in your inventory. When you create ad hoc items, the system enables you to specify a new number for the item, but it does not add the item to the JD Edwards EnterpriseOne Inventory Management system until you create the purchase order or blanket order.
While header questions are optional for a request for quote, you must attach at least a price question to each line of the event. If you do not attach a price question to a line, the system searches for an associated price question to assign using the following hierarchy:
Using the item number that you specified in the event line, the system searches the Bid Questions table (F43Q60) for a price question that is attached to the item number.
If unsuccessful, the system determines whether the item in the event line has a commodity code attached to it and, if so, searches the Bid Questions table (F43Q60) for a price question that is attached to the commodity code.
If the system does not locate a price question attached to the item number or commodity, it attaches the default price question that you set up in the Sourcing Constants program (P43Q90).
See Setting Up System Constants for Operational Sourcing.
When attaching price questions, you can add price component and price break detail. Price component detail enables you to list each component of the item, such as material, shipping, and packaging, so that bidders can respond to the question by entering the price for each component. Price break detail enables you to list quantity ranges so that bidders can respond to the question by entering possible price breaks for each quantity range.
If you do not enter price break detail, bidders will have the opportunity to enter their own quantity ranges and price breaks for your review.
After you finish creating event lines and attaching questions to the lines, you can submit the RFx. The system sends an email or fax to each invited supplier and bidder, depending on their preference, and changes the status of the event to Posted - Pending. After the event has been posted, you can pause, end, extend, or cancel the event, and the system sends the corresponding message to the invited suppliers and bidders.
See Managing an Event.