Request for solution

[1] The difference with a request for proposal (RFP) consists of the RFS being much more open and leaving more space to innovate.

"[3] "In contrast to a detailed, buyer-led RFP, the RFS is an open-ended, collaborative process.

The customer describes its environment, objectives, concerns, and risk tolerance and the potential suppliers come back with solutions that meet those general requirements.

Once a determined solution has been selected, the process can advance one step, issuing, for example, a RFP, more specific and detailed.

Researchers[1] from the University of Tennessee consider RFS "an emerging competitive bidding methodology".