Not infrequently, I see and hear references to "writing an RFP" when what people really mean is "writing a proposal in response to an RFP." There's a big difference in the choice of words.
If you are going to write an RFP, you are most likely employed by a government agency, for-profit company or non-profit organization. Your purpose in writing an RFP is to advertise your need for a product or service, and to obtain bids (prices, proposals) from companies or organizations that want to sell you that product or service. When you write an RFP, you are providing those prospective bidders with information and specifications on the product/service you are looking for so that they can respond with information on what they can offer. It makes sense when you think about it: RFP is an acronym for Request For Proposals.
Thus, when you receive an RFP and decide you want to make a bid, you are not going to be writing an RFP -- you are going to be writing a proposal in response to a Request for Proposals. They request, you respond.
That oughta clear things up!
deborah:
love your blog...and learn something valuable everytime i read it. as someone newly starting a similiar business (though on a smaller scale), i really appreciate your wisdowm.
i had to laugh over the rfq, rfp, proposal mixups. i recently worked for a big architectural firm. they called everything i created an rfq...even insisted on putting RFQ on the front page of the proposal..it drove me nuts, though i tried to teach them the difference, i was unsuccessful! :) thanks for giving me a smile today.
marlayna
Neither Deborah or Marlayna explained the difference between the RFQ and RFP. In telecommunications for 25 years, I have always written RFPs. Once in a while someone challenges whether it should be an RFQ instead. What is the difference?
My opinion is that the difference lies in the numbers:
A proposal answering a Request for Qualifications would simply list 'qualifications' and explain why the firm is best qualified for the project.
A proposal answering a Request For Proposals usually contains a monetary bid as well as listing qualifications.