What Does RFQ Mean?
RFQ stands for Request for Quotation. In the context of solar purchasing, it is a structured document or form you send to multiple suppliers asking each of them to quote a price for a specified system, product, or service. Rather than walking into a single shop and accepting whatever price you're given, an RFQ puts suppliers in competition — which almost always results in better value for the buyer.
RFQs are standard practice in B2B procurement, construction, and government tenders. SolarMarket has adapted the same principle for consumer and small-business solar purchases in Uganda, making it accessible to anyone with a smartphone or internet connection.
RFQ vs Walk-In Buying — Key Differences
Price Transparency
When you walk into a solar shop in Kampala's Nakawa or Kikuubo hardware belt, you typically see a quoted price without knowing whether it is 10% or 40% above what another supplier would charge for identical equipment. Uganda's solar market has limited published pricing, so information asymmetry strongly favours the seller. An RFQ reverses this: you receive competing bids and can see the spread immediately.
Specification Accuracy
Walk-in purchases often result in buyers being sold what is in stock, not what is right for their load. A structured RFQ forces each supplier to respond to your stated requirement — system size, appliance load, region, budget — so their quote is designed around your needs, not their inventory.
Financing Options Included
Financing in Uganda's solar sector — hire purchase, PayGo, RBF subsidies — is often not disclosed unless the buyer specifically asks. When you submit an RFQ, you can specify your financing preference and suppliers will include available plans in their quotes. This means you see the actual monthly cost, not just the cash price.
How SolarMarket's RFQ Differs from WhatsApp-Based Quoting
Most solar buying in Uganda currently happens over WhatsApp — buyers join supplier groups or message sellers directly. This approach has real drawbacks:
- Quotes arrive as photos of handwritten notes or unstructured text, making comparison nearly impossible.
- There is no record of what was agreed — disputes about warranty or delivery terms are common.
- Buyers are exposed only to suppliers they already know, rather than the full market.
- Follow-up messages get buried in busy WhatsApp threads.
SolarMarket's RFQ system solves each of these: quotes are structured and itemised, all communications are logged on-platform, and your requirement is sent to all eligible verified suppliers — not just the one whose number you happen to have saved.
What Happens After You Submit an RFQ
- Your RFQ is reviewed and matched to relevant verified suppliers on SolarMarket.
- Suppliers receive a notification and submit their quotes directly on the platform.
- You can view all quotes in your RFQ dashboard, message suppliers, and request revisions.
- When you find the right offer, you can proceed to payment or arrange a site visit — no obligation to buy from any supplier who quoted.
Ready to try it? Submit a free RFQ at /rfq/create.
