Buyer RFQ Infrastructure
Request for Quote (RFQ)
Submit a detailed Request for Quote for U.S. products and services through United Exports. Register your business, enter your requirements, and manage exporter responses from your Buyer Workspace.
7-day free trial. Register your business, enter the Buyer Workspace, and begin using the RFQ process. After the trial, buyer membership is a one-time $75 payment for lifetime access with no recurring fee for buyers.
Before You Send an RFQ
Register Your Business First
International buyers first create a business profile and enter the Buyer Workspace. Registration establishes the company and purchasing context used to organize the buyer’s activity across United Exports.
The profile can include company and contact details, industries and products of interest, target markets, purchasing preferences, and practical requirements that help keep future RFQs organized.
Register → Start 7-day trial → Enter Buyer Workspace → Create RFQ
Start Your 7-Day TrialBuyer profile and purchasing preferences
- Company and primary contact information
- Industries, products, categories, and keywords of interest
- Target markets and preferred certifications
- Typical order size and estimated purchasing volume
- Shipping preferences, Incoterms, and other buying requirements
The Request
Build a Detailed Request for Quote
The RFQ is designed to capture the information exporters need to evaluate an opportunity. Buyers can describe what they need, upload an existing RFQ or document, or use the structured RFQ builder. Assisted intake can organize buyer-provided information, but the buyer reviews and submits the request.
- Products or services requested, quantities, units, and specifications
- Categories, keywords, and HS codes when applicable
- Destination market, delivery requirements, delivery terms, and response deadline
- Budget information when provided and minimum order quantity
- Certifications, standards, and compliance requirements
- Packaging, labeling, OEM or private-label needs, and other buyer notes
From Request to Response
How the RFQ Process Works
The RFQ routing architecture is designed to analyze each request, identify relevant U.S. exporters, and keep responses and communication connected to the original RFQ.
- Step 1
Submit the RFQ
The buyer creates and submits a detailed Request for Quote from the Buyer Workspace. The buyer controls the information submitted, reviews it before sending, and provides the requirements exporters need to evaluate the opportunity.
- Step 2
AI Analyzes the Request
The RFQ can be analyzed to identify the products, services, industries, requirements, markets, and other information needed to determine which U.S. exporters may be relevant. The buyer remains responsible for reviewing and submitting the request.
- Step 3
RFQ Routing
The routing system is designed to search the United Exports exporter network first for relevant U.S. companies. If the network does not contain enough relevant exporters, the routing layer is designed to extend the search to external sources of U.S. exporters. The objective is to put the RFQ in front of relevant companies rather than broadcast it indiscriminately.
- Step 4
Relevant U.S. Exporters Receive the Opportunity
Exporters identified as relevant to the RFQ can receive the opportunity and review the buyer’s actual requirements before deciding whether to respond.
- Step 5
Exporters Respond to the RFQ
Exporters can respond directly with commercial information including pricing, currency, lead time, Incoterms, payment terms, validity, minimum order quantity, notes, line-item responses, and supporting documents where applicable.
- Step 6
Buyer Reviews Responses
Responses are available through the Buyer Workspace, where the buyer can review exporter responses and supporting information. Buyers and exporters can use RFQ Q&A to clarify requirements and communicate about that specific RFQ.
The AI searches the United Exports exporter network first. If additional relevant exporters are needed, the routing layer is designed to extend the search to external sources of U.S. exporters. This allows the system to look across the United Exports network first and extend the search when additional relevant U.S. exporter coverage is needed.
Everything Stays With the Buyer Workspace
The Buyer Workspace gives international buyers one central place to create detailed Requests for Quote, return to drafts, follow submitted RFQs, review exporter responses, and keep RFQ-specific conversations organized.
- Create and manage RFQs
- View recent RFQs
- Continue RFQ drafts
- Review submitted RFQs
- Review exporter responses
- Participate in RFQ Q&A
- Save exporter contacts for future reference
- Manage buyer preferences
- Browse U.S. exporters and products
A Direct Buyer–Exporter Connection
United Exports provides the network and RFQ infrastructure that connects international buyers with U.S. exporters. Buyers and exporters communicate directly regarding the opportunity and conduct their business directly.
United Exports does not buy or sell the goods, negotiate the transaction, or receive compensation from the resulting sale.
Ready to Request a Quote from U.S. Exporters?
Register your business, start your seven-day trial, enter your Buyer Workspace, and submit your first detailed Request for Quote.
