How to read an RFP (and not miss what gets bids thrown out)
A practical checklist for reading a government RFP, RFQ or invitation to bid: the sections that matter and the details that disqualify bidders.
Government solicitations are long, but most of the risk sits in a few places. Read these first.
The five things to find first
- Deadline, time zone and how to submit: online portal, email or sealed paper. Late bids are almost never accepted.
- Mandatory meetings: a mandatory pre-bid meeting or site visit means you can't bid if you miss it.
- Who can bid: registrations, set-asides, licenses and certifications.
- Insurance and bonding: liability limits, auto, workers' comp, and bid/performance bonds.
- How they'll choose: lowest price, or "best value" with scored criteria. Write to the scoring.
Then read the scope and pricing
The scope of work (or statement of work) says exactly what you'd do. The pricing sheet or bid schedule says how to price it: lump sum, unit prices, hourly rates. Price every line they ask for, in their format.
Don't skip the addenda
Buyers post changes and answers to questions as addenda (or amendments). You usually must acknowledge each one in your bid. Check again the day before the deadline.
Ask questions early
There's usually a question deadline. Anything unclear, ask in writing before then.
FindMyBids reads each bid and flags these items against your business profile with its readiness check, quoting the sentence it found them in.
Common questions
What's the difference between an RFP and an RFQ?
See RFP vs RFQ vs ITB. In short: an RFQ is price-focused, an RFP asks how you'd do the work and is scored on value.
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