> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.acelabusa.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Sending an RFI

> Select products in your schedule and use the Send RFI wizard to request product data from manufacturers.

You send an RFI from a **schedule view**. Select the products you want answers about, choose the fields you need filled in, pick who to ask, and send.

> [!NOTE]
>
> You need an **Admin**, **Creator**, or **Editor** role on the project to send RFIs. See [RFI roles and permissions](https://docs.acelabusa.com/help-center/working-on-projects/rfi/rfi-roles-and-permissions.md)

<video src="https://mintcdn.com/acelab/6O7uoUUSFnlfk8vw/videos/GMT20261102-160847_Clip_Aynaz-Alaei's-Clip-11_02_2026.mp4?fit=max&auto=format&n=6O7uoUUSFnlfk8vw&q=85&s=aecc53bc0cbce36fa460d33457eab82f" controls />

## Start an RFI

You can start an RFI in two ways:

* **From your schedule:** Select one or more rows, then click **Send RFIs (N)** in the schedule toolbar. **N** is the number of RFIs your selection will create, one per manufacturer, not the number of products.
* **From the RFIs dashboard:** Click **+ New RFI**, choose the schedule view to start from, then select your rows.

> [!TIP]
>
> You can select all rows in a view and then deselect a few. The count and the wizard include every row in the filtered view, not only the rows currently visible on screen.

## Complete the wizard

The **Send RFI** wizard has five steps: **Products**, **Select Fields**, **Recipients**, **Details**, and **Review**. Click **Back** to return to an earlier step, or **Save as draft** at any point to finish later. See [Saving and resuming RFI drafts](https://docs.acelabusa.com/help-center/working-on-projects/rfi/saving-and-resuming-rfi-drafts.md).

**1. Products**

Confirm the products you selected. They're grouped by manufacturer, with a summary such as *"15 products, 2 manufacturers, 2 RFIs will be sent"*.

* Click the remove control to drop a single product or a whole manufacturer group.
* Click **Add more products** to search the rest of the schedule view.

Products with no manufacturer appear in a red **No manufacturer on file** group. They won't receive an RFI. To include them, add a manufacturer to those products in your schedule first.

![Send RFI wizard on the Products step, showing products grouped by manufacturer and a summary of how many RFIs will be sent](https://mintcdn.com/acelab/iwPsIU5bVdpn_oQd/images/rfi/rfi-send-step1-products.png?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=iwPsIU5bVdpn_oQd\&q=85\&s=03b09f3e9f5eb7963ef3d2c9452e3665)

Products grouped by manufacturer, with the batch summary at the top.

**2. Select Fields**

Choose the fields you want the manufacturer to fill in. The list shows the visible columns in your current schedule view.

* The **Product** column is always included.
* Select at least one other field to continue.
* Fields marked **Read-only** can't be requested. If you can't edit a column in your schedule, a manufacturer can't fill it either.

Some columns never appear in the list, including Manufacturer, Comments, Used in Projects, Reps, Date Added, Added By, and formula columns.

**3. Recipients**

Set a **Response Deadline** for the whole batch. The earliest date you can choose is tomorrow.

Each manufacturer has its own card with a recipient already selected for you. Click **Change** to choose a different recipient:

* **A named rep** from that manufacturer.
* **Manufacturer Admin**, who assigns the RFI to the right rep for you.
* **Acelab Connection**, used automatically when no rep is available to you. Acelab's team reaches out to the manufacturer on your behalf. This option can't be changed.

If the deadline or a recipient is missing when you click **Next**, the wizard highlights what needs attention.

![Send RFI wizard on the Recipients step, showing the Response Deadline field and recipient cards for two manufacturers](https://mintcdn.com/acelab/iwPsIU5bVdpn_oQd/images/rfi/rfi-send-step3-recipients.png?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=iwPsIU5bVdpn_oQd\&q=85\&s=aea992ca64bcea978b4dadb77d20b3ab)

The Response Deadline above a recipient card for each manufacturer.

**4. Details**

Add the context the manufacturer needs:

* **Project Information:** Choose which project details to share, using the **Basic Information** and **Detailed Information** tabs or the **All Fields** toggle. The project name is always shared. Fields with no value can't be selected.
* **Message:** Required, up to 1,000 characters. A default message naming your firm is filled in for you, and you can edit it.
* **Attached Documents:** Add PDF, Word, Excel, PNG, or JPEG files by clicking or dragging them in. Each file can be up to 5 MB.

**5. Review**

Check the summary: the deadline, shared project details, requested fields, each recipient and their products, your message, and attachments. Click **Submit RFI** when you're ready.

## Confirm and send

Before sending, a confirmation shows how many manufacturers and products are included. It reminds you that:

* Each manufacturer only receives the products they make.
* Responses update your schedule automatically and can't be undone.

Click to confirm. If you don't want to see this confirmation again, check **Don't show this warning again**. Acelab remembers this choice across all your projects.

![Send RFI confirmation dialog showing the number of manufacturers and products, a warning that the update cannot be undone, and a Don't show this warning again checkbox](https://mintcdn.com/acelab/iwPsIU5bVdpn_oQd/images/rfi/rfi-send-presend-warning.png?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=iwPsIU5bVdpn_oQd\&q=85\&s=abba889da2335231634ef6c5d5fac770)

The confirmation shown before an RFI is sent.

After sending, a message confirms the RFI with a shortcut to the project's **Conversations**. The manufacturer is notified in the app and by email.

> [!WARNING]
>
> You can't cancel or delete an RFI after you send it.

## Next steps

> [card] [Tracking RFIs](https://docs.acelabusa.com/help-center/working-on-projects/rfi/tracking-rfis.md)
>
> Follow the status of your RFIs.

> [card] [RFI conversations](https://docs.acelabusa.com/help-center/working-on-projects/rfi/rfi-conversations.md)
>
> Message manufacturers about an RFI.