Say it like this
- We sent out an RFP to find a new cloud infrastructure provider.
- Three vendors responded to the RFP with competitive bids.
- The RFP response deadline is next Friday.
Use it at work
Sales
- We're responding to an RFP from a big bank.
- The RFP deadline is next Friday.
Buying
- Let's send an RFP to three vendors.
- The RFP lists our security needs.
Planning
- Who's writing the technical part of the RFP response?
- Our RFP answer is 40 pages.
Don't say this
RFP is for procurement and vendor selection, not for internal code reviews or technical changes.
Don't mix it up
| Term | What it is | Who writes or uses it | When |
|---|---|---|---|
| RFP | Request for vendors to propose | Buyer | Before choosing a vendor |
| SOW | Detailed work agreement | Vendor and client | After choosing |
| MSA | Master contract terms | Legal | Long-term relationship |
Practice
Try it
4 quick exercises
1. Your company needs to hire an external software development vendor. What do you do first?
2. Our procurement team _______ an RFP to five different cloud service providers last month.
3. Which sentence uses RFP incorrectly?
4. Rewrite this in natural tech English: We asked many companies to tell us how they would do this work and how much it would cost.
Say it out loud
Phrase 1 of 3
"We sent out an RFP to find a new cloud infrastructure provider."
We don't save your recording. The word check uses your browser's speech recognition.
More about RFP
Real examples(4)
- in a procurement meeting
"We will issue an RFP and invite five vendors to respond by the end of March."
- in a sales team chat
"Can an engineer review the technical section of the RFP response by Thursday?"
- in a vendor evaluation
"Two vendors scored highest on security in the RFP, but only one met our timeline."
- in a design discussion
"This is an RFC for the engineering team, not an RFP, because we're not buying anything."
More mistakes(2)
Handle with care. RFP is primarily a business/procurement term, not a code review or testing term. Do not confuse it with bug fixes or quality assurance processes.
- ✕The RFP was rejected by our team.✓Our team rejected the vendor proposals that came in response to the RFP.
An RFP is issued by a company, not rejected by them. Vendors respond to it, and their proposals can be rejected.
- ✕Let us RFP the problem.✓Let's send an RFP to find a vendor who can solve this problem.
RFP is a noun referring to a formal document, not a verb meaning to solve or address something.
Other forms(2)
- RFP noun
"We issued an RFP to three consulting firms."
- RFPs noun
"Managing multiple RFPs simultaneously requires careful coordination."
Often used with(5)
- issue an RFP · to send out a formal request for proposals to vendors
- respond to an RFP · for vendors to submit a proposal answering an RFP
- RFP process · the entire procedure from issuing the RFP to selecting a vendor
- RFP response · the proposal submitted by a vendor in answer to an RFP
- RFP deadline · the final date by which vendors must submit their proposals
Similar words(3)
- tender · More common in UK English; refers to a similar formal request for bids from contractors.
- request for quote (RFQ) · Simpler and shorter than RFP; used when you mainly need pricing information.
- request for information (RFI) · Less formal; used to gather information before issuing a full RFP.
Questions(7)
- What does RFP stand for?
- Request for proposal. A technology RFP describes requirements (for example a new CRM or cloud migration) and asks vendors how they would deliver it, how long it takes and what it costs.
- What is the difference between an RFP, RFI and RFQ?
- An RFI (request for information) gathers general information. An RFP asks for a full proposal. An RFQ (request for quote) asks only for a price, when the requirements are already clear.
- What is the difference between an RFP, an RFI and an RFQ?
- An RFI asks vendors for general information about what they offer. An RFQ asks mainly for a price on clearly defined goods. An RFP asks for a full proposal for a complex need, including the approach, cost and timeline.
- What is the difference between an RFP and an RFC?
- An RFP is used to buy something from outside vendors. An RFC (Request for Comments) is a design document shared inside an engineering team to get feedback. They look similar in writing but mean very different things.
- What is usually in an RFP?
- Background on the company, the problem to solve, technical and security requirements, the timeline and budget range, the evaluation criteria, and the rules for submitting a response.
- How do you respond to an RFP?
- Read the requirements carefully, send your questions through the named contact before the deadline, answer every item, give clear prices and references, and submit on time. Engineers often write the technical and security sections.
- Which verbs go with RFP?
- Buyers issue, publish or run an RFP. Vendors respond to, answer or bid on an RFP. Both sides evaluate or score responses. For example: We issued an RFP last month and received six responses.
