solicit proposals

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "solicit proposals" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where you are requesting or inviting proposals, often in business or project management settings. Example: "We are looking to solicit proposals from qualified vendors for our upcoming project."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

30 human-written examples

In April, though, the city began to solicit proposals for a new contract, and the payment system it proposes is strikingly similar to the fee-for-service plan it had sought to overhaul.

The New York Times

If the Council approves Mr. Bloomberg's plan, the Department of Transportation will solicit proposals.

The New York Times

Typically, companies solicit proposals and then give the business to the carrier with the lowest bid.

The New York Times

Google said that over the next six weeks it would solicit proposals from communities interested in the service.

The New York Times - Tech

To that end, I have directed the Department of Health to solicit proposals for this new model of care".

The New York Times

Ms. Zimmerman said that the city would begin to solicit proposals from health care providers during that time.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

30 human-written examples

The administration subsequently solicited proposals from developers.

The New York Times

The legislation merely calls for soliciting proposals.

The New York Times

He put out a newspaper ad, soliciting proposals without luck.

The New York Times

It solicited proposals from developers for the first phase in September.

The New York Times

The company is soliciting proposals for the renovation from architecture firms.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In formal contexts, use "solicit proposals" to signal an open and competitive bidding process for projects or services.

Common error

Avoid using "solicit proposals" without a clearly defined scope, as this can lead to irrelevant or unhelpful submissions. Always provide specific guidelines.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "solicit proposals" functions as a verb phrase. It describes the action of requesting formal offers or suggestions for a particular project or service. As seen in Ludwig, it typically involves organizations or entities seeking external contributions.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Formal & Business

28%

Science

22%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "solicit proposals" is a grammatically sound and frequently employed verb phrase used to describe the act of formally requesting offers or suggestions. As Ludwig AI indicates, the expression is correct and well-suited for professional, news, and business contexts. When using "solicit proposals", ensure that the project scope and requirements are clearly defined to encourage relevant and high-quality responses. Alternatives such as "request bids" or "invite tenders" may be more appropriate in certain situations. Overall, "solicit proposals" is a valuable phrase to understand for effective communication in both business and formal settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

request bids

Focuses specifically on asking for offers, often in a competitive setting.

invite tenders

Common in formal settings, particularly in government or large organizations.

seek submissions

Broader than proposals, encompassing any form of submitted work.

call for offers

Directly asks for offers, implying a competitive process.

put out a request for proposals

More explicit and detailed, emphasizing the formal process.

invite applications

Focuses on inviting people to formally apply, often for jobs or programs.

open up for bidding

Emphasizes making something available for competitive bids.

seek expressions of interest

A preliminary step to gauge interest before a formal proposal.

launch a call for proposals

Suggests a formal announcement and structured process.

ask for suggestions

Informal and open-ended, inviting any type of suggestion.

FAQs

How can I use "solicit proposals" in a sentence?

You can use "solicit proposals" in sentences like: "The city will "solicit proposals" from contractors for the new bridge project" or "We need to "solicit proposals" for the software development contract".

What's a more formal alternative to "solicit proposals"?

A more formal alternative is to use "request bids" or "invite tenders", especially in government or official contexts.

Is there a difference between "solicit proposals" and "ask for suggestions"?

"Solicit proposals" implies a formal, structured process for obtaining detailed plans or offers, while "ask for suggestions" is more informal and open-ended, inviting any kind of idea or input.

What should I include when I "solicit proposals"?

When you ""solicit proposals"", make sure to include a detailed project scope, clear requirements, evaluation criteria, and submission deadlines to ensure you receive relevant and high-quality submissions.