Request for Proposal (RFP)
Also called: RFP, request for proposal, solicitation
A Request for Proposal is a solicitation in which the buyer describes a need and asks vendors to propose how they would meet it and at what price, then picks a winner on stated evaluation factors rather than price alone.
Federal RFPs follow FAR Part 15 (negotiated procurement). The document is usually built on the Uniform Contract Format in FAR 15.204-1, so the instructions sit in Section L and the evaluation factors in Section M. State and local RFPs follow the state procurement code and look different from one portal to the next, but the logic is the same: the buyer scores what you wrote against criteria it published.
What to check first: the due date and time zone, the set-aside, the evaluation method (tradeoff or lowest price technically acceptable), the page limits, and whether a sources sought or presolicitation came before it. Read the Q&A and every amendment before you outline.
What it is not: an RFQ (a quote, usually simpler and price-driven) or an IFB (sealed bids, lowest responsive and responsible bidder wins). An RFP is not an offer from the government to buy; it is an invitation to make one.
See also: Request for Quotation (RFQ), Invitation for Bid (IFB), Section L, Section M
Questions that use this term
Search allJordan, the city RFP you found is asking for a full proposal, which is a lot more than just a price sheet. You need to provide a narrative for your...
I'm looking at a state agency Request for Proposal (RFP) for IT services, specifically 541511, and trying to decide on a bid or no-bid. The incumbent...
My SAM.gov saved search for 561730, Landscaping Services, has been bringing back a bunch of different notices for federal grounds work, mostly for...
I'm trying to figure out how to best prepare for an upcoming federal contract. I saw a presolicitation notice on SAM.gov for medical coding support,...
There is no central repository for winning proposals at the state or local level, and you will need to file a public records request for each one....
Hey everyone, Jordan P. here from Jacksonville, FL. My company runs a 9-person landscaping crew. We decided this year to go after government work,...
Each RFP discussion thread on govcon.forum is created for a specific, live solicitation listed on RFPFinder. These threads serve as a central place...
To flag an amendment, a Q&A answer, or a due date change on a solicitation thread, post a reply with the update. The moderation team will update the...