Call for tenders

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Introduction

Need to purchase products or services but want to compare offers from multiple vendors first? That’s where Call for Tenders (or Alternative RFQs) in Odoo’s Purchase app comes in. This feature lets your business gather and evaluate multiple quotations for the same order helping you select the best prices, delivery timelines, and terms.

 

Whether you’re a public sector organization (where tendering is often mandatory) or a private business seeking cost efficiency, Odoo’s Purchase Agreements feature makes this process smooth and transparent.

Step-by-Step Instructions

 
1. Enable Purchase Agreements in Odoo

Before you can send multiple RFQs for comparison:

  • Go to Purchase app → Configuration → Settings
  • Under the Orders section, check the box for Purchase Agreements
  • Click Save

 

2. Create Your First Request for Quotation (RfQ)

 

Create an RfQ just as you normally would:

  • Open the Purchase app
  • Click New, and fill in your order details
  • Choose your first vendor
  • Save and optionally send the RfQ

 

3. Create Alternative RFQs (Call for Tender)

 

Want to get quotes from other vendors for the same products? Follow these steps:

  • Open the original RfQ
  • Click the Alternatives tab
  • Click Create Alternative
  • In the popup:
    • Select a different vendor
    • Keep the Copy Products box checked if you want to duplicate the original order lines
    • Click Create Alternative

Repeat this step for additional vendors. If you want to manually add different products to a vendor’s quote:

  • Uncheck the Copy Products box before clicking Create

 

4. Link a New RfQ to Existing Alternatives

 

If you’ve created a new RfQ separately but want to link it to existing tenders:

  • Open the RfQ
  • Go to the Alternatives tab
  • Click Link to Existing RfQ
  • In the popup, select the existing tenders to connect them

Use Group by Vendor in the popup if you’re handling many POs.

 

5. Compare Vendor Quotes Side-by-Side

 

To decide which vendor gives you the best value:

  • Open any of the related RfQs
  • Go to the Alternatives tab
  • Click Compare Product Lines

Here, you’ll see a side-by-side view of all quotes grouped by product. Select the best offer by clicking Choose for each line.

Want to remove a product from the comparison?

  • Click Clear at the end of its row

6. Finalize the Order and Manage Alternatives

 

Once your decision is made:

  • Click Confirm Order on the selected RfQ
  • A pop-up asks: What about the alternative Requests for Quotations?
    • Choose Cancel Alternatives to close unused RFQs
    • Or choose Keep Alternatives to keep them open for later

The cancelled RFQs will show a greyed-out “Cancelled” status in your overview.

Tips for Using Calls for Tenders Effectively

  • Use Copy Products to save time when creating similar RFQs.
  • Uncheck Copy Products to send custom orders to specific vendors.
  • Use Compare Product Lines to make data-driven purchasing decisions.
  • Cancel unused RFQs to keep your dashboard clean and organized.

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Conclusion

 

Using Calls for Tenders in Odoo allows you to streamline procurement, negotiate better deals, and manage vendor relationships more effectively. Whether you’re handling one order or many, Odoo gives you the tools to stay in control of your purchasing decisions—all in one place.

Start optimizing your purchasing process today by enabling Purchase Agreements in the Odoo Purchase app!

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