Do you want to get big contracts for your business? It’s a great way to grow, but in order to get the business, you’re going to have to respond to a Request for Proposal (RFP).
An RFP is used by public agencies and large companies for complex projects that impact multiple departments. That allows them to go through the detailed responses and find the company that they think is a good fit.
Read on to learn what an RFP response is and how you can create one that
What Is an RFP Response?
An RFP response is a response to a request for proposal. It seems simple, right?
When you start digging into the world of RFPs, you’ll notice that there are different acronyms like RFPs, RFQs, and RFIs. They’re all slightly different things.
An RFQ is a request for a quote. It’s an itemized list of pricing information for a product or range of services. Sometimes, an RFP will have an RFQ in it. That allows the potential client to see how you arrived at your pricing.
It also gives them an opportunity to pick and choose the products and services they want.
An RFI is a request for information. It’s used by organizations in the early stages of planning to find out how vendors might address a specific problem or project.
Where an RFP differs is that it has a lot more information in it. It’s more than just the price and it’s much more than a general overview.
It details information about your company, the scope of the project, what is included and not included in the project, the costs to complete the project, and why your company should be chosen.
What’s in an RFP Response?
An RFP response requires much more planning and depth. A typical RFP response will have these components:
- Summary of Your Company
- Summary of the Project
- Your Strategy and Approach to the Project
- Deliverables and Timelines
- Costs
- Case Studies & Testimonials
This is a very basic outline of what an RFP response entails. When you respond to an RFP, you’ll see a list of questions that the prospect wants to be addressed. For example, the Department of Education has this internal guide to evaluate RFP responses.
You have to answer and address every single question. Overlooking any detail could cause your proposal to fail.
How to Write an RFP Response
Writing an RFP response is a long process. Organizations give a month or two for companies to submit responses. You cannot wait until the last week to get it done.
Read the RFP carefully and find out what the company is really looking for. You can find out the elements of the project that are most important to the company, and they will weigh RFP responses accordingly.
Take the time to create multiple drafts of the RFP response, making edits and improvements with each draft. You can also work with a company like Weber Associates to get an objective view of your RFP response.
The RFP Response Is the First Step
Winning a large contract through an RFP process is a long wait. You are likely to have several steps after you submit your RFP if your response is chosen to go to the next stage.
The RFP response is the first impression that potential clients will have of your company. You want it to count.
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