solicit bids

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "solicit bids" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used in contexts where someone is requesting offers or proposals, often in business or procurement situations. Example: "The company decided to solicit bids from various contractors for the construction project."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

At that point, the city will solicit bids from developers.

The New York Times

The parties agreed to a go-shop provision allowing Dynegy to solicit bids for 40 days.

The New York Times

Mr. Landis is confident enough of raising the money that he begun to solicit bids.

The New York Times

It has hired Deutsche Bank to solicit bids from sophisticated investors and set minimum bids.

The New York Times

Once an emergency is recognized, the government must solicit bids, gather the food and put it on a ship.

The New York Times

For Egypt, China's investment drive offers an opportunity to solicit bids on construction projects at low prices.

The New York Times

Merrill plans to solicit bids for Home Loan Services, which is in Pittsburgh, in the coming weeks.

The New York Times

Were Mr. Wylie to solicit bids for Mr. Amis, editors at major trade publishers said there would be interest.

The New York Times - Books

But the city recently announced that it was trying once again to solicit bids for shoeshine service on the ferries.

The New York Times

The board will solicit bids this spring from brokers regardless of political affiliation, said Jack Schnirman, the deputy supervisor.

The New York Times

Each company expressed interest last year when the creditors of Dabhol Power began to solicit bids to acquire the plant.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When preparing to "solicit bids", ensure you have clearly defined specifications and evaluation criteria to attract relevant and competitive offers.

Common error

Avoid soliciting bids without clearly defining the project scope; this can lead to receiving irrelevant or unhelpful proposals.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "solicit bids" functions as a verb phrase, where "solicit" is the main verb and "bids" is its direct object. It describes the action of requesting or inviting formal offers, typically in a business or contractual context. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

30%

Science

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "solicit bids" is a common and grammatically sound expression used to describe the act of formally requesting offers or proposals, as verified by Ludwig AI. It's frequently found in news and media, as well as formal business contexts. When using this phrase, ensure clarity in your specifications to attract competitive offers and avoid overly broad scopes. Alternatives such as "request proposals" or "invite tenders" can be used depending on the desired level of formality and regional dialect. The consistency and frequency of this phrase in authoritative sources contribute to its high expert rating.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

request proposals

Focuses on a formal request for a detailed plan or suggestion, often in business or government settings. Slightly more formal than "solicit bids".

invite tenders

Commonly used in British English, emphasizing a formal invitation to submit a price for a project or service. More formal.

call for bids

Highlights the act of announcing that bids are being sought. Slightly less formal.

seek quotations

Emphasizes the request for a price estimate or quote. Less formal and specific.

obtain offers

Focuses on the action of getting offers, often implying a more proactive approach. Less formal and less specific.

open up for bidding

Suggests a process of making something available for competitive offers. Less formal.

seek submissions

Implies seeking formal documents for assessment, applicable outside of the business context. Broader meaning.

advertise for bids

Stresses the public announcement aspect of seeking bids. Focuses on promotion.

put out for tender

Similar to "invite tenders" but can imply a wider, more public invitation. Implies distribution.

launch a call for proposals

More formal and often used in academic or research contexts. More specific, focusing on the start of the process.

FAQs

What does it mean to "solicit bids"?

To "solicit bids" means to formally request offers or proposals from different parties, usually for a specific project or service. It's a common practice in business and government procurement.

When is it appropriate to "solicit bids"?

It is appropriate to "solicit bids" when you need to obtain competitive offers for a project or service, ensuring you get the best value. This is common in construction, government contracts, and large-scale procurement.

What are some alternatives to "solicit bids"?

You can use alternatives like "request proposals", "invite tenders", or "call for bids" depending on the context and formality.

How does "solicit bids" differ from simply asking for quotes?

"Solicit bids" typically implies a more formal and structured process, often with detailed specifications and evaluation criteria, whereas asking for quotes can be a less formal request for pricing information.