Request for association
Kate Vitasek et al. refer to a "request for partner" or "request for collaboration" as part of a continuum of RfX approaches in a paper called "Unpacking Collaborative Bidding" published in 2016.[1] "RfX" is a collective term for business invitation processes such as a request for information (RFI), request for proposal (RFP), or request for quotation (RFQ).[2] The proposed association usually has a commercial business purpose (for example, for a joint venture or for use in the voluntary sector).[3] Instead of describing in detail the specifications of a product (as a request for quotation does), a RFA focuses on the mutual benefits that both parties would obtain from their alliance: "...engages the potential sponsor in thinking about how your project could help his or her own larger goals".[4] One of the parties may provide ideas, experience or raw materials, whilst the other one may provide money, machines or workers.