A method for sourcing an item requirement includes receiving an item requirement that identifies an item and a quantity of the item that needs to be sourced from one or more suppliers. The method also includes determining one or more sourcing criteria that affect the sourcing of the item. The sourcing criteria include one or more quantity pricing rules that are associated with each of a number of suppliers and the quantity of the item available at each of the suppliers. Furthermore, the method includes determining one or more suppliers from which the item should be sourced and a quantity of the item to obtain from each such supplier based on the sourcing criteria. In addition, the method includes automatically generating one or more transaction documents that each identify the item and the requested quantity of the item and that include a request that a supplier provide the requested quantity of the item. These transaction documents are communicated to the associated suppliers.