A preliminary solicitation used by government agencies to gather market intelligence before issuing a formal RFP or RFQ.
A Request for Information (RFI) is a pre-solicitation tool that government agencies use to understand what solutions exist in the market. Responding to an RFI does not commit either party to a contract, but it can influence how the subsequent RFP is written.
Why RFIs Matter
Agencies use RFIs to determine whether their requirements are realistic, identify potential vendors, refine their acquisition strategy, and estimate pricing. For contractors, responding to an RFI is a strategic opportunity to shape requirements in your favor.
Best Practices for RFI Responses
Keep your response concise but informative. Highlight unique capabilities that differentiate you. Provide realistic timelines and cost ranges. Use the RFI response as a chance to educate the agency about your approach.
Frequently asked questions
Should you respond to a government RFI?
Yes — responding to an RFI is a strategic opportunity to influence how the agency writes the eventual RFP. Your response can shape requirements, establish your credibility, and signal capability before formal competition begins.
Does responding to an RFI guarantee you a spot in the RFP?
No. An RFI response does not commit either party to anything. The agency may issue an RFP to all vendors regardless of whether they responded to the RFI, but early engagement builds visibility and relationships.
ProposalApp: Find It. Win It. Scale It.
Who it is for: Government contractors, business development teams, capture managers, and proposal writers bidding on federal, state, and local contracts.
Find It: Bid Matching surfaces SAM.gov opportunities aligned to your capabilities. Recompete Radar flags expiring contracts months before re-solicitation. Contract Intel shows who is winning in your space and at what price.
Win It: Proposal Draft generates a first draft in minutes from the RFP and your company documents. Proposal Scoring gives a Win Score and gap analysis. Risk Management, Clarity Assistant, Compliance Matrix, Project Schedule, and WBS take the proposal across the finish line.
Scale It: Market Intelligence Reports deliver NAICS spend analysis and Go/No Go teaming recommendations for your target market. Agency Contact Search surfaces agency and teaming contacts with ready to send outreach emails and tracked status. GSA Survey Integration drafts MRAS/eBuy survey answers from your GSA profile. Pipeline Management, Document Management, Customer Management, and Team Workspaces round out the growth toolkit.
Pricing: Free plan with 3 proposals, no credit card required. Starter is $49/month billed annually or $199/month month-to-month, and includes 10 proposals per month. Pro is $199/month billed annually or $399/month month-to-month, and includes 30 proposals per month plus Recompete Radar, Contract Intel, Market Intelligence Reports, Agency Contact Search, and GSA Survey Integration. White Glove (Pro run for you by a dedicated capture consultant) and Enterprise (50+ users) are quoted.