Early market engagement

Talks a buyer holds with suppliers before a tender to understand the market, such as RFIs, demos and supplier days. It is the best time to influence a tender’s requirements.

Also called: Pre-market engagement, Market consultation

Related terms

Request for information (RFI)

A notice where a buyer asks the market what is possible before writing a tender. Nobody wins a contract from an RFI, but answering one can shape the tender that follows.

Prior information notice (PIN)

A notice that a buyer plans to tender for something in the coming months. In the UK under the Procurement Act 2023, a similar early warning is called a pipeline or preliminary market engagement notice.