ITT vs RFT

An invitation to tender (ITT) and a request for tender (RFT) both mean the same thing: an open call asking suppliers to submit priced bids for defined work. The label you see depends more on who is buying than on what is being bought.

The short answer

Functionally identical — both are competitive tender documents with a scope, evaluation criteria and a closing deadline. Don't treat the acronym as a signal of process depth. Read the document itself.

Where each term shows up

"ITT" is the traditional common-law and construction-world term, still standard with federal departments, defense-adjacent buyers and UK-influenced organizations. "RFT" is common in municipal procurement and in Australian/NZ-influenced templates. Canadian provincial crowns mix both, and many now use neutral labels like "open competition" or "opportunity" to avoid acronym fatigue.

What actually differs between tenders

The things worth checking are not in the acronym: whether it's a single- or two-stage process (see two-envelope evaluation); whether evaluation is lowest-price or best-value; whether only pre-qualified suppliers may bid (see pre-qualified supplier lists); the bond and insurance requirements; and the closing mechanism (hard deadline vs continuous intake).

Common questions

Is an RFQ the same as a tender?

Usually not — an RFQ is typically price-focused for well-specified goods, while a tender may include method statements, references and scoring. See RFQ vs RFP for the wider comparison.

Can I ask questions during an ITT?

Yes — every proper tender has a question window and issues addenda with answers to all bidders. Watch the buyer's posting page; see what an addendum is.

Where do I find ITTs and RFTs in one place?

Buyers post on their own portals, which fragments the market. pubsec.pro aggregates Canadian tender opportunities by category and region.

Related definitions

RFP meaning · Tender notice · Two-envelope evaluation