RFQ Inbox · responding to buyer briefs

The inbox is at /account/rfqs. Check it daily · the matching engine prioritises consistent responders.

Each row shows · buyer's brief headline, budget bracket, your match score, category, timeline, urgency flag. Click to expand the full brief.

Buyers shortlist on the first three responses, not the best three. Hit 24 hours every time. If the brief lands at 4pm Friday, respond Monday by 4pm at the latest. Speed is a real signal.

Read the full brief twice. The headline is sanitised · the real ask is usually three paragraphs in. Check the budget bracket against your minimum deal size. If they're below your floor, decline · don't waste their time or yours.

Three-part structure:

1. Open with the case study · "We did exactly this for [similar client] and the outcome was X." Specificity beats superlatives.
2. One specific question · something the brief left ambiguous. Demonstrates that you read it.
3. Discovery-call ask · 20-minute call to scope. Don't quote cold · either you under-price (and resent it) or over-price (and lose).

Click "Respond" on the RFQ. The form captures · your response text, your deal-size proposal (range, not exact), and the call link if you have one. Submit. The buyer is notified.

"Decline" doesn't damage your matching weight · it improves it. Polite decline with a one-line reason ("budget below our typical engagement"). The buyer appreciates the clear no, and we recalibrate matching to send you better-fit briefs next time.

• If shortlisted · buyer's full identity unlocks for you. The discovery call is the next step.
• If passed over · you'll see status flip on the RFQ row. No notification (we keep it low-friction).
• Either way · update your supplier pipeline at /my-supply/leads.