What is a Request for Information?
 
A request for information (RFI) is a formal way of requesting information of various kinds from different suppliers. 
Most likely with the aim for future deliveries of products or services. 
The RFI is normally a document containing a description on why the information is requested and a specification
 to what information that actually is requested. 
The RFI is mainly used if you need to involve a supplier in a new project or if you want to scan the
 market for other and better potential suppliers. The number of suppliers that are available could be huge,
 and the RFI creates a structured process to narrowing down the longlist of suppliers to a smaller number
 of interesting suppliers: the shortlist
 When having a shortlist it is possible to go for the next step, an RFP or RFQ.