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Suppliers often need clarification before they can quote — specifications, delivery conditions, alternatives. Seloria handles this conversation directly on the RFQ, so nothing gets lost in email threads.

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How suppliers ask questions

Every quote portal includes a Questions & Answers section:
  1. The supplier types a question in the text box and clicks Send question.
  2. The question appears in their list with an Awaiting reply indicator.
  3. Once your team answers, the reply appears beneath the question, marked Buyer reply.
Suppliers can ask questions at any point — while preparing their quote and even after they have submitted it. Reopening their portal link after submission shows the confirmation screen with the Q&A section still active. Each conversation is private between you and that supplier. A supplier only sees their own questions and your answers to them — questions are never broadcast to the other invited suppliers.

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What happens when a question arrives

When a supplier asks a question:
  • All buyers, project managers, and admins in your organization receive an in-app notification and an email containing the supplier name, the RFQ number, and the question text, with a link to open the RFQ.
  • The question is logged in the RFQ’s activity history, so the audit trail shows who asked what and when.

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Answering from the RFQ page

  1. Open the RFQ and go to the Questions tab. The tab shows the question count, and each entry shows the supplier name, the date asked, and the question.
  2. Unanswered questions show a reply box. Type your answer and click Send reply.
  3. The answer is saved with your name and a timestamp, and appears inline under the question.
Each question takes one answer. Once answered, the reply is displayed to the supplier and shown with its date on your side. If the RFQ is already closed, unanswered questions are flagged as pending but the reply box is no longer shown.

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Supplier notification

When you send a reply, the supplier automatically receives an email telling them there is an answer to their question about the RFQ, with a button that opens their quote portal where they can read the full reply. Your answer is also logged in the RFQ’s activity history.

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Tips

  • Answer promptly — suppliers usually hold their quote until open questions are resolved, and the response deadline keeps running.
  • If a question reveals a problem with the RFQ itself (wrong quantity, missing spec), consider editing the RFQ and re-sending it as a revision so all suppliers quote against the corrected version.
  • Because each Q&A thread is private, if one supplier’s question is relevant to everyone, repeat the clarification in a revision or share it with the other suppliers individually.