BOQ vs RFQ in ELV procurement
BOQ and RFQ are often used interchangeably in the GCC market, but they serve different purposes in the procurement cycle. Understanding the difference helps you get better bids from ELV suppliers.
What is a BOQ in ELV projects
A Bill of Quantities (BOQ) is a document that lists all the materials, equipment, and labour required for an ELV installation. It typically includes item descriptions, quantities, and units. It is a scope document, not a pricing document.
What is an RFQ in ELV projects
A Request for Quotation (RFQ) is a formal request for pricing from suppliers. It defines what you need, the quantity, the timeline, and any specific requirements. The RFQ uses the BOQ as its foundation but adds commercial context.
How they work together
In practice, you prepare the BOQ first to define scope, then issue an RFQ that includes the BOQ as an attachment. Suppliers price against your BOQ line items and return structured bids with unit prices, totals, and lead times.
Common mistakes in ELV sourcing
Sending a BOQ without a covering RFQ leaves suppliers unclear on timeline, award criteria, and format. Sending an RFQ without a BOQ forces suppliers to guess scope, which produces incomparable bids.
Structuring your ELV RFQ correctly
Use RFQsNow to create line-item RFQs with your BOQ data. Each line item should have the item name, quantity, unit, and specification. Attach the full BOQ document. This produces structured, comparable bids from multiple ELV suppliers.
Related guides and pages
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