UK Procurement Glossary
Request for Proposal (RFP)
A formal document inviting suppliers to propose a solution to a defined business need — common terminology in commercial sales, broadly equivalent to an ITT in UK public sector.
Definition
A Request for Proposal (RFP) is a formal request from a buyer asking suppliers to submit a proposed solution to a defined need. RFPs typically include a problem statement, requirements, evaluation criteria and response timeline. In UK public sector procurement, the equivalent term is Invitation to Tender (ITT); in commercial B2B sales, RFP is more common.
RFPs vary in formality. Some are highly structured and equivalent to a formal procurement; others are lighter and more conversational, especially in the US-style enterprise sales context.
How this affects your bid
Whether you call it an RFP or an ITT, the win-themes are the same: read the question, address it specifically, evidence your claims, and beat competitors on substance (not page count).
Common questions about request for proposal (rfp)
Is RFP a public-sector or private-sector term?
Both, but commercial sales (especially in US contexts) use RFP more often, while UK public sector procurement uses ITT.
Are RFPs always competitive?
Usually yes — RFPs invite multiple suppliers to respond. Sole-source ("non-competitive") situations typically use a direct award route, not an RFP.
Related terms
Invitation to Tender (ITT)
The formal document a UK public sector buyer issues inviting suppliers to submit a tend…
Request for Information (RFI)
A pre-procurement document asking suppliers for general information about their capabil…
Request for Quotation (RFQ)
A request for a price quote against a defined specification — used for simpler, lower-v…
Writing a bid that involves request for proposal (rfp)?
BidWriter is the AI bid-writing tool built specifically for UK public sector bidders. Free plan, no card required.
Start free →See all UK procurement terms in the BidWriter glossary, or read our long-form procurement guides.