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Purchasing & Procure-to-Pay

Request for Proposal (RFP)

Also known as: RFP

A request for proposal (RFP) is a document inviting suppliers to propose how they would meet a requirement, including their approach, capability and price.

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An RFP is used when a requirement is complex or the ideal solution is not fixed — the buyer wants to compare not only price but methodology, experience and value-add. Suppliers respond with a structured proposal, which is then scored against weighted evaluation criteria.

RFPs take longer to run than RFQs but produce richer, more comparable submissions for services, projects and strategic purchases. Many organisations run a request for information (RFI) first to shortlist suppliers before issuing the RFP to a smaller field.

Frequently asked questions

What is an RFP?
A request for proposal invites suppliers to propose how they would meet a requirement — covering approach, capability, timelines and price — for the buyer to evaluate against weighted criteria.
When should you use an RFP instead of an RFQ?
Use an RFP for complex or open-ended requirements where the solution matters, not just price. Use an RFQ when the specification is fixed and you mainly need competitive pricing.

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