What Is a Request for Proposal (RFP)?
A Request for Proposal (RFP) is a formal document issued by a contracting authority inviting suppliers to submit detailed proposals for providing specific goods, services, or works. RFPs are the most common solicitation type in government procurement.
Definition
An RFP describes the contracting authority’s requirements, evaluation criteria, terms and conditions, and submission instructions. Unlike a Request for Quotation (RFQ), which primarily seeks pricing, an RFP evaluates both technical approach and cost. Proposals are scored against stated criteria, and the contract is awarded to the best-value offeror.
RFP vs RFI vs RFQ
A Request for Information (RFI) gathers market intelligence before a formal procurement—no contract results from an RFI. A Request for Quotation (RFQ) seeks price quotes for well-defined requirements. An RFP seeks comprehensive proposals including technical approach, past performance, staffing, and pricing. Understanding these distinctions helps you allocate proposal resources correctly.
Anatomy of a government RFP
Government RFPs typically include: a Statement of Work (SOW) or Performance Work Statement (PWS) describing requirements, evaluation factors and their relative importance, instructions for proposal preparation, contract terms and conditions, and a submission deadline. Federal RFPs follow the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) format.
Finding RFPs with Jorpex
Jorpex monitors 50+ procurement sources for RFPs and other solicitation types. Your keyword and region filters surface the most relevant opportunities. Each Slack notification includes the solicitation type, so your team can quickly distinguish RFPs from RFIs and RFQs and prioritize accordingly.