RFP (Request for Proposal)

Full Definition

A Request for Proposal (RFP) is a formal solicitation document issued under FAR Part 15 (Contracting by Negotiation) when the government intends to award a contract based on the evaluation of proposals against stated criteria rather than lowest price alone. RFPs require offerors to submit detailed technical volumes addressing the Performance Work Statement or Statement of Work, a management approach describing staffing and organizational structure, past performance references demonstrating relevant contract history, and a separate cost or price proposal. The Source Selection Authority evaluates all proposals using the published evaluation factors, which may include discussions, exchanges, or clarification requests with offerors in the competitive range before making a final best-value award decision.

Why It Matters

RFPs represent the highest-effort solicitation type for small businesses and are the primary vehicle for services contracts above the simplified acquisition threshold of $250,000. A typical mid-size contract RFP response requires 200 to 500 person-hours across capture management, technical writing, pricing, and executive review. Small businesses should read every page of the solicitation including all attachments, CDRLs, and referenced documents. Mapping your proposal outline directly to the evaluation factors and subfactors using a compliance matrix ensures evaluators can find responsive content. Attending pre-proposal conferences and submitting thoughtful questions during the Q&A period demonstrates engagement and can clarify ambiguous requirements before you invest significant proposal resources.

Example

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