invitation to negotiate
invitation to negotiate. A solicitation for one or more offers, usu. as a preliminary step to forming a contract. — Also termed invitation seeking offers; invitation to bid; invitation to treat; solicitation for bids; preliminary letter; offer to chaffer. Cf. OFFER. [Cases: Contracts 16. C.J.S. Contracts §§ 37–41, 44, 46, 55–56, 58.]