7 Must-Have Fields in a Solar RFQ That Get Real Quotes

Most buyers do not get bad quotes because they asked the wrong supplier. They get bad quotes because they asked a vague question.

A sloppy RFQ ("need 500kW solar system, send best price") invites three things: a lowball price hiding a different spec, a trading house quoting another trading house's price, and a week of email ping-pong to figure out what you actually meant. Fix the RFQ, and the market responds differently.

Here are the seven fields that separate an RFQ that gets serious quotes from one that gets brochure links.

1. Product and exact model family

Name the product class (PV module, inverter, LFP cell, mounting system) and the model family you are open to. "Monocrystalline 580W TOPCon module, 144 half-cut cells" beats "solar panels" by an order of magnitude.

2. Key electrical / technical parameters

For modules: wattage, efficiency class, voltage, current, warranty. For inverters: input voltage range, MPPT count, IP rating. For batteries: chemistry, capacity, cycle life grade, form factor. A supplier cannot quote a spec you did not state.

3. Quantity and split

Is it one 40HQ, a 3MW project, or a 12-month rolling order? State it. Volume changes the price conversation more than any negotiation tactic.

4. Target Incoterm and destination

EXW, FOB, DDP — and which port. "FOB Shanghai" and "FOB Ningbo" are different quotes. Say "FOB Shanghai, 500 units, 2 shipments."

5. Certification and documentation needs

IEC, CE, TÜV, UL, UN38.3 — list what the final market requires. A buyer who does not ask for certificates gets the price without them.

6. Payment terms range

You do not have to commit, but state your range: "T/T 30% deposit / 70% before shipment, open to L/C." This filters out suppliers who only do 100% upfront.

7. Timeline and deadline

Production start, delivery window, and when the quotation must arrive. A dated RFQ gets dated responses — and lets you compare apples to apples.

Why this matters for China sourcing specifically

The Chinese supplier ecosystem is quotation-driven. A precise RFQ is read as a sign of a serious, repeatable buyer. Suppliers respond with better pricing tiers, faster service, and less "testing" behavior. The single cheapest upgrade in your sourcing workflow is a better RFQ template.

The single cheapest upgrade in your sourcing workflow is a better RFQ template.

Planning your next China solar or storage RFQ? I help buyers write sharper RFQs, compare quotes on the same fields, and verify suppliers before money moves. Start with the guides at Insights or book a single-project verification report.

Use this as a procurement framework, not as engineering, legal or tax advice. Always confirm supplier identity, product specs and payment terms in writing.