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Procurement glossary

What is RFP (Request for Proposal)?

Used to invite supplier proposals against a defined business requirement.

Definition

A Request for Proposal asks suppliers how they would meet a stated need, not just what they would charge. It is used where the approach is part of what is being bought - services, systems, complex or novel scopes.

How it works in practice

A buyer procuring engineering design services describes the outcome and constraints rather than the method, and asks each firm to propose an approach, team and timeline. Evaluation weighs technical merit alongside commercial terms.

Why it matters

RFP responses are not directly comparable in the way quotes are, which is why structured evaluation - weighted criteria agreed before responses arrive - matters more here than anywhere else.

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