Australian Tender Terms: EOI, RFI, ATM, RFT, RFQ and RFP
Australian tender terminology varies between Commonwealth, state, territory, local-government and private buyers. The label helps you understand the likely stage and purpose of a request, but the definitions, conditions and legal effect in the actual notice and request documents always control.
Common Australian tender request types
Expression of Interest (EOI)
An EOI asks suppliers to describe their interest, capability and relevant experience. Buyers often use it to understand the market or shortlist suppliers for a later stage. An EOI is not automatically a request for a final priced offer.
Request for Information (RFI)
An RFI asks the market for information about available solutions, delivery approaches, capability or likely commercial models. It can inform a future procurement, but suppliers should check the notice before assuming that an RFI will lead to an RFT or contract.
Approach to Market (ATM)
An ATM is an umbrella term for a buyer's formal approach to potential suppliers. In Australian Government procurement, the notice or documents may describe an EOI, RFI, RFT, RFQ, RFP or another request as an ATM. Read the full pack to identify what the buyer is asking suppliers to submit.
Request for Tender (RFT)
An RFT asks suppliers to respond to a defined requirement under stated conditions. The pack commonly includes specifications, response schedules, evaluation criteria, draft contract terms and submission instructions. Whether an offer is binding, and when, depends on those documents.
Request for Quote (RFQ)
An RFQ asks suppliers for pricing and related delivery information against a described requirement. An RFQ can still include mandatory conditions, evaluation criteria and contract terms; do not treat it as price-only unless the documents say so.
Request for Proposal (RFP)
An RFP asks suppliers to propose how they would solve a problem or deliver an outcome. It may allow more flexibility in the proposed method than an RFT, but the distinction is set by the buyer's documents rather than the acronym alone.
Qualification and evaluation terms
Mandatory criteria
Mandatory criteria are requirements a response must satisfy to remain eligible or conforming under the stated rules. They may relate to licences, insurances, forms, declarations, experience or another condition. Identify every mandatory item early and follow the exact evidence and format instructions.
Evaluation criteria
Evaluation criteria are the factors the buyer uses to assess responses. They may cover capability, methodology, personnel, risk, sustainability, price and other matters. Address each published criterion directly and use any stated weighting, page limit or response schedule.
Value for money
Value for money is an assessment of the overall outcome offered by a response, not simply the lowest price. The relevant considerations depend on the procurement and may include quality, fitness for purpose, risk, whole-of-life implications and price.
Probity
Probity refers to integrity, fairness and accountability in the procurement process. It can include consistent treatment of suppliers, confidentiality, conflict management, documented decisions and use of the nominated communication channel.
Changes and communications during a tender
Addendum
An addendum is an official change or addition to the request documents. It may amend requirements, dates, forms, answers or contract terms. Monitor the nominated portal and follow any instruction to acknowledge addenda in your response.
Clarification
A clarification is a formal question or answer used to resolve uncertainty in the request or a response. Submit questions through the channel and by the deadline stated in the documents. Treat official published answers as part of the current tender information.
Best and Final Offer (BAFO)
A BAFO is a revised final offer requested by a buyer during a permitted negotiation or evaluation stage. Do not submit an unsolicited BAFO or assume revisions are allowed; follow the invitation, scope and deadline issued by the buyer.
Supplier arrangement terms
Panel
A panel is a group of suppliers selected through a procurement process for a defined category, period or buyer group. Appointment to a panel does not necessarily guarantee work. Buyers may run further quotes, allocate work under panel rules or choose another permitted approach.
Standing offer
A standing offer sets agreed terms under which a buyer may place orders or enter contracts during a defined period. A panel may include standing offers with multiple suppliers, but the exact ordering and allocation rules come from the arrangement documents.
Other useful tender terms
Tenderer or respondent: The supplier submitting a response to the request.
Scope of work or scope of services: The goods, services, construction work, deliverables and boundaries the buyer wants supplied.
Response schedule: A form or section that tells suppliers where and how to answer a requirement. Use the buyer's structure unless the documents expressly allow an alternative.
Offer validity period: The period for which the supplier agrees to keep its offer open for acceptance, as stated in the request and response.
Put the terms into a controlled response process
Knowing the acronym is only the first step. Use the step-by-step Australian tender process to turn the request into owners, evidence, review gates and submission checks. For public-sector portals and procurement context, continue with the Australian government tenders guide.
Tendor can help teams discover and manage opportunities, but it does not replace the buyer's instructions. The official portal, source notice, request documents, addenda and clarification notices remain authoritative for each tender.