Menu Path: Sourcing Events Management à RFQ Management à Create New à New Pursuit RFQ
Choose Create New Pursuit RFQ from the Create New button on the top right corner of the List of RFQs page. Unlike RFQs the pursuit RFQs can only be created through the Sourcing Event Management module. Instead of a fixed delivery date and Quantity, MeRLIN’s Pursuit RFQs enable Buyers to provide a period and a projected volume and ask Suppliers to provide quote.
The Pursuit RFQ is useful when exact delivery dates and quantities are uncertain, helping buying organizations forecast and negotiate pricing before actual demand arises.
Provide the necessary information in the General tab.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Provide the basic RFQ information such as the name, currency, evaluations required, etc.
Description of Fields:
- Name: The Name of the RFQ
- Description: Purpose / detailed description of the RFQ
- Preferred Currency: RFQ currency
- Evaluation Type: Commercial Only, Technical + Commercial. Technical Evaluators will be able to choose one or more Suppliers from the submitted quotes, which will then be visible to Commercial Evaluators. Commercial Evaluators will then choose the final awarded Supplier(s).
- Type: Limited- Only the Suppliers mapped to the RFQ will be able to see the RFQs.
Public- All the suppliers will be able to see the RFQ.
- Response Storage: Open- If the RFQ is open the buyer will be able to see all the responses provided by the suppliers at any point in time. Suppliers can edit the quote even after the buyer has published it.
Sealed- If the sealed RFQ is selected, the buyer will not be able to see the responses until and unless the Early Bid Opener or the Sealed Bid Opener opens the supplier response. For Sealed RFQs the supplier response is stored in Encrypted format until the RFQ is opened for sourcing. Once it is opened the supplier will no longer be allowed to edit the response.
- Minimum Responses Needed: Minimum response required to proceed with sourcing.
STAKEHOLDERS
MeRLIN allows you to add stakeholders as you define an RFQ. The following are the roles defined
Q & A
Create the questions for the RFQ, you can either add questions one by one or import from a template already defined under the Business Administration.
ITEMS
Under this tab, you can add items and associated suppliers. In Pursuit RFQ only Catalog and Non Catalog Items can be added
Key Differences from Regular RFQ:
- No Fixed Date for Delivery – Instead of a specific delivery date, it works on a period-based schedule (Monthly, Quarterly, Half-Yearly, or Annual).
- Projected Demand – It captures potential future needs rather than precise requirements, making it useful for opportunity-based procurement.
- New Tab: Delivery Schedule – This tab replaces the fixed date requirement with a time and estimated quantity.
Validations for Pursuit RFQ:
1.Cannot Select a Past Period – Users cannot request items for a period that has already started. A warning message with the following content will be shown when the item is scheduled in the past or Inprogress period
2.No Overlapping Periods – A request cannot overlap between different time frames (e.g., specifying both Half-Yearly and Monthly for the same period). A warning message will be shown when the item schedule dates are overlapping
SUPPLIERS
Add suppliers under this tab, these suppliers will be linked to all the items in the items list. MeRLIN allows unapproved and new (pursuit) Suppliers to participate in sourcing events without prior approval. These Suppliers, invited through email with unique URLs, can respond to events and be evaluated, but cannot receive awards until they are fully approved by the Buyer. using the Add Supplier button. More than one supplier can be chosen. You also have the option to bulk upload suppliers using excel template.
Add New Pursuit Supplier: Provide the Supplier Name, and Email Address for further contacts of the Supplier and the Supplier Country. Click Save.
Once all the suppliers are chosen, click on the Save and Continue button.
SCHEDULE
Provide the schedule. Provide the dates for each of these listed activities- Publish On, Supplier Feedback closure date, Last date for SOW finalization, Quote opening date, Last date for quote submission, Bid opening date, and final closure date.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS TEMPLATE
Click in Add New to add new templates to the RFQ.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
In the text editor provided, type in the Terms and Conditions of the RFQ.
DOCUMENTS
Add documents to the RFQ under this section. Also, the Terms and Conditions documents appear under this section.
At this stage, you can also save the RFQ as a template that can be reused again using the Save as Template option.
APPROVAL
Now submit the RFQ for approval
