How to write an RFP for consulting services

An RFP for consulting services is a document a buying organization issues to invite consulting firms to propose an approach and price for a defined engagement. A clear RFP produces comparable proposals and a defensible selection.

A well-structured consulting RFP generally includes these sections:

1. Company background and context: who the organization is and why the project is happening.
2. Project objectives and scope: the specific problem, goals, and boundaries of the work.
3. Scope of work and deliverables: concrete tasks, outputs, and milestones expected from the consultant.
4. Timeline: key dates for the project and for the RFP process, including proposal deadline and decision date.
5. Budget or pricing instructions: a budget range or a required pricing format.
6. Proposal requirements: what each response must contain, such as methodology, team bios, relevant experience, and references.
7. Evaluation criteria: the weighted factors used to score proposals, for example experience, approach, price, and cultural fit.
8. Submission instructions and contact: format, channel, and a single point of contact for questions.

Best practices include being specific about outcomes rather than prescribing methods, stating a realistic budget, allowing a question-and-answer period, and defining objective evaluation criteria before proposals arrive. Vagueness in scope is the most common reason responses are hard to compare.

References

1. InvestGlass, "How Can You Prepare a Strong RFP for Consultancy Services?" — https://www.investglass.com/how-can-you-prepare-a-strong-rfp-for-consultancy-services/
2. MBO Partners, "How to Write an RFP for Consulting Services" — https://www.mbopartners.com/blog/workforce-management/how-to-write-an-rfp-for-independent-contractors/