Overview of RFx:
An RFX can be thought of as a general mechanism that allows buyers and sellers to conduct business. often the exchange of specific items or services for a specific price, but also the exchange of information, such as capabilities or willingness.
RFx is a general term used to represent different types of RFx:
1. Request for Information:
Generally used to elicit information from market on a requirement.
2. Request for Proposal:
Used for complex requirement and project where buyer outlines the requirement in an RFP and Supplier submit the Detail response for the same.
3. Request for Quotation:
Used for Standard items and services where both buyer and supplier are clear about the specifications of the product.
Implementing RFx Functionality:
Assumption: All Basic Settings of SAP SRM has already been done.
1. Number Range: Mainatain the number ranges using the menu path SPRO>>SAP Implementation Guide>>Supplier Relationship Management>>SRM Server>>Cross Application Basic Settings >>Number Ranges>>SRM Server Number Ranges>>Define Number Ranges for Local RFxs.
2. Define Transaction Type: Maintain Transaction types using menu path SPRO>>SAP Implementation Guide>>Supplier Performance Management>>SRM Server>>Cross Application Basic Settings>>Define Transaction Types.
3. Define Transaction type for RFx in organizational Plan: Using Transaction PPOMA_BBP, define the Transaction type for RFxs in the Organizational plan and assign the attributes TEND_TYPE to the responsible user.
4. Define Output settings:
In order to emable the user to Print RFx, send them by email, and Fax them to bidders:
>> Maintain Printer settings for the users in your system.
>> Mainatin email-address and fax number of your bidders in the web interface of SAP Supplier Relationship management.
>> Define processing types and forms that are used to output documents.
Make Printer Settings:
a) Run Tcode : PPOMA_BBP
b) Select the users you require.
c) Add value a PRI for Attribute "default Printer".
Make Email address and fax numbers of bidders:
a) on the Web interface of SAP SRM, Choose Manage Business partner.
b) Search for the bidders and enter their Fax number and Email-address.
Define the processing types and forms that are used to output documents:
Menu Path:
SRM Server>>Cross Application Basic Settings>>Set output Actions and Output Format>>Define Actions for Document output.
5. Define Sourcing for Product Categories: Sourcing rules applicable for each product category is defined in menu path : SPRO>>SAP Implementation Guide>>Supplier Relationship Management>>SRM Server>>Sourcing>>Define Sourcing for Product Categories.
Sourcing Rules available in Settings:
1. Sourcing is never Carried out: if Source of Supplier does not exist in the requirement,then an incomplete Purchase order is created.
2. Sourcing is always carried out: All requirement are transferred to sourcing cockpit.
3. Sourcing is carried out for items without a source of supply: In absence of Source of supply, the requirement is transferred to the sourcing cockpit.
4. Sourcing Via automatic bid invitation for items without a source of supply: System create a bid invitation for all requirements that do not have a source of supply.
Adjust Roles:
a) Adjust Roles for Internal Employees:
In order to maintain the bidding functions of SAP Bidding Engine, one should maintain the roles responsible for RFx and RFX responses.
Roles:
/SAPSRM/OP_Purchaser -- Operational purchaser
/SAPSRM/ST_Purchaser -- Strategic Purchaser
b.) Adjust roles for External Business Partner:
we can create companies and bidder contacts and assign them the role /SAPSRM/SUPPLIER. if we want to allow those external users to participate in strategic Sourcing events such as RFx and Auction we must assign them the role: /SAPSRM/BIDDER.
Some Important Application Controlled workflow:
WS79000002: One-Step approval for bid.
WS14500026: Without approval for publication of RFx and its change version.
WS14500027: One-Step approval for publication of RFx and its change version.