Which statement concerning requests for information (RFIs) is true?

• A. Responses to RFIs are binding offers that can be accepted to form contracts
• B. Responses to RFIs are not offers and may not be accepted by the government to form binding contracts
• C. RFIs require a formal agreement to be binding
• D. RFIs always lead to a contract if the government selects a response

Answer: (B)

RFIs are tools to gather information about market capabilities and potential solutions before formal procurement. They are non-binding and do not contain offers or commitments that could form a contract. A response to an RFI isn’t an offer the government can accept to create a contract. Only later, through a formal solicitation (like an RFP) and the resulting offer and acceptance, can a binding contract arise. So the government may use information from an RFI to plan its purchase, but there’s no contract obligation tied to an RFI response.