Expression of Interest (EOI)

An EOI — often posted as "RFEOI" — is the buyer's market-sounding step: who is out there, what could they deliver, and roughly what would it cost? It awards nothing; it shapes the solicitation that follows.

What an EOI actually asks for

Typically: company profile, relevant experience, an outline of how you would approach the requirement, and sometimes budget-range feedback. It deliberately does not ask for a priced, full proposal — that comes later.

What happens after

Buyers use EOI responses to shortlist invitees for a closed RFP/RFQ, to refine scope and budget, or to confirm a competitive market exists (which affects whether trade-agreement rules are triggered). Some EOIs explicitly say whether shortlisted responders will be invited or whether the process will re-open publicly.

Should a supplier bother responding?

Usually yes, and cheaply: a good EOI response is 2–4 pages, not a full proposal. It positions you before the real documents are written, and buyer teams genuinely read them — responding also puts you on the distribution list for amendments and the eventual solicitation.

Common questions

Is an EOI a pre-qualification?

They overlap but differ: a pre-qualification (PQ) scores suppliers against pass/fail criteria and produces a qualified list; an EOI is more open-ended market consultation. Buyers sometimes use the terms loosely — the document itself tells you which it is.

Can I win the contract from an EOI alone?

No. An EOI never awards work. If a buyer ever "awards" straight from an EOI, that is effectively a sole-source decision and carries the transparency obligations that go with it.

Where are EOIs posted?

On the same portals as tenders. pubsec.pro lists current opportunities, including EOIs and RFEOIs from Canadian public buyers.

Related definitions

RFP meaning · RFQ vs RFP · Tender notice