How to Efficiently Craft a Request for Proposal

What is a request for proposal?

A request for proposal is essentially an announcement that a business (or government) is launching a project. The purpose of this announcement is to let contractors know that you have a project you want them to bid on. Soliciting bids from several contractors helps your business save money and find contractors who are right for the job. Getting bids from contractors early on is also an important part of making sure your project starts on time.

Streamlining projects allows businesses to meet deadlines and allocate time more effectively. Recruiting, vetting, and hiring contractors can be a lengthy process, so it’s crucial to get that process started as soon as possible. With a request for proposal, you can announce an upcoming project and solicit bids from several contractors well before the start date of your project, that way company decision-makers aren’t scrambling to hire someone at the last minute.

Keep in mind that an effective request for proposal should include all the pertinent details about your project. Your RFP should include enough details that contractors are able to submit an accurate bid after reading it. This includes a detailed description of your project, any specific requirements, and project milestones and deadlines.

What is an RFP template?

From contracts and press releases to requests for proposals, drafting documents can take up a lot of time for businesses. RFP templates are the key to writing an effective request for proposal in a minimal amount of time. While the details of the specific project you’re launching will change from project to project, using a template is a great way to save time whether you’re writing a project brief or a request for proposal.

Because every project is different and RFPs should include certain details, getting your RFP template right is important. The good news is, creating a request for proposal template that works for your business is fairly simple. You can even find some free templates online to make things even easier. And once you’ve got a template you can work with, you’ll save time every time you launch a project.

What should an RFP include?

It’s crucial to make sure your RFP template includes all the right details, that way you can write an effective request for proposal. A detailed request for proposal helps you weed out contractors who aren’t qualified and give contractors a better idea of what your project entails. However, it’s also important to keep in mind that not every RFP is the same. Your ideal request for proposal template may vary based on the industry you’re in, and each individual RFP can change based on the type of project you’re working on.

First and foremost, your request for proposal should include the details of the project you’re working on, including background information about your company and what you're working on, as well as a detailed description of the project. This includes all the steps involved in the project as well as the basic requirements of the project.

Your RFP should also mention the specific requirements of your project. Do contractors need to have certain licensing or certification? Are there preferred systems, tools, or materials that you want to use for your project? Including this information helps you find qualified contractors who are a good fit for your projects. This is especially important for projects that involve product development and testing.

A request for proposal should also include the project deadline and any specific milestones that you expect to meet throughout the project. It’s important to include these details to make sure you’re hiring contractors who can meet your project milestones and deadlines, especially if you’re launching a time-sensitive project.

You can also include questions you’d like vendors to answer in your RFP. If there’s something specific you’re looking for in a contractor, asking the right questions can help you find who you’re looking for. You can also talk about potential roadblocks that you may run into during your project to help you weed out unqualified contractors.

Typical RFP outline

When you write an RFP, it’s important to include the right details in a format that’s easy to read. You want to provide as much information as possible without overwhelming the contractors you’re soliciting bids from. You also don’t want to spend too much time filling out an RFP template when you’re busy launching a project, so understanding how to write an RFP is important.

Fortunately, there are some simple guidelines you can follow to write an effective request for proposal. By making sure you’re including all the important details about your project, you can find contractors who are equipped to handle the job. With a good RFP template, you can save time writing these requests and make it easier to attract top talent.

As long as you include the essentials, you can write a decent RFP and get bids from contractors for your project. Here are some of the basics you should include in an RFP outline:

1. Background: You should start by including some background information about your project, including any relevant details about your business. This helps give contractors a feel for the project and its purpose.
2. Goals: Describe the goals you’re trying to reach with your project in detail. Perhaps you want to secure all the databases your company uses, or maybe you want there to be specific systems or materials you want to use for your project. You can get into those details in this section.
3. Instructions for submission of proposals: Make sure you give contractors basic instructions for how to submit a proposal, including where to submit proposals as well as the deadline for submissions.
4. Timeline: Your RFP outline should also include a project timeline so you can make sure the contractors you hire can get your job done on time. Make sure you include milestones you expect to reach throughout the project as well as the actual project deadline.
5. Important details: In addition to all the other sections, your RFP template should include a section that outlines the specific details of your project. You can talk about what the project is, what kind of contractors you’re looking for, and anything else contractors may need to know.
6. Evaluation criteria: Discuss the criteria you’ll use to evaluate contractors. You can mention what you’re prioritizing in the hiring process to encourage qualified contractors to submit a bid for your project.
7. Potential roadblocks: Mention any potential roadblocks you might run into during the project, that way the contractors you hire know what they’re getting into and whether they’re equipped to handle these obstacles.
8. Budget: A good RFP must include your budget as well. Contractors need to know what you’re expecting to spend so they can bid accordingly. Including your budget in your RFP also helps weed out contractors who aren’t interested in submitting a bid at that price.

Request for proposal best practices

Like any business document, there are best practices you should follow when writing a request for proposal. The structure and content of your proposals determine their effectiveness, so following these best practices helps you find qualified contractors for your projects. Attracting better talent for your projects can save you time and money, so RFPs can be very beneficial.

Integrating these best practices into your request for proposal template can help you save time and write better proposals. From the information you include in your proposal to making sure you set realistic expectations, there are lots of things you should keep in mind when writing a request for proposal.

Let the experts work

Rather than suggesting specific solutions to reach the goals you’ve outlined for your project, consider leaving things open ended and letting the experts do what they do best. You’re hiring contractors because of their knowledge, so let them help you find the best solutions for your projects.

Be realistic with deadlines

Just because you want to finish your project as soon as possible doesn’t mean you can set unrealistic deadlines. Setting realistic deadlines helps give contractors a better idea of when you expect to have your contract completed, that way they know if they can meet your needs.

Proofread and revise

Once you’ve got your RFP written, take a moment to look back over it for proofreading and revisions. You should use clear, concise language when writing an RFP, and make sure your RFP is formatted in a way that’s easy to read. You can also take this time to correct any spelling or grammatical errors.

Okay, you wrote a request for proposal, now what?

Now that your RFP is complete, it’s time to send it out to contractors you may be interested in hiring. Emailing these requests is a good way to make it easy for contractors to read and respond to your proposal.

From emailing a request for proposal to email marketing compliance, Mailchimp can help you simplify email and give your business a boost. With Mailchimp and a good RFP template, finding the best contractors is easier than ever. Try Mailchimp today to transform your email marketing efforts.