How to Read an RFP: Breaking Down Government Solicitations

The Anatomy of an RFP

Every government RFP follows a standard structure. Understanding this structure helps you quickly identify what matters.

Section A: Solicitation Information

This tells you the basics — who's buying, what they need, and when they need it. Look for the response deadline, the contracting officer's name, and the NAICS code.

Section B: Supplies or Services

The actual scope of work. Read this carefully — it defines exactly what you'll deliver.

Section C: Description/Specifications

Technical requirements and performance standards. This is where you find the details that differentiate winning proposals.

Section L: Instructions to Offerors

**This is the most important section for proposal writing.** It tells you exactly what to include, how to format it, and what evaluation criteria will be used.

Section M: Evaluation Criteria

How proposals will be scored. If price is weighted 30% and technical approach 70%, focus your effort accordingly.

Common Pitfalls

**Missing the deadline** — Late proposals are almost never accepted

**Ignoring page limits** — Evaluators will stop reading at the limit

**Not answering what's asked** — Address every evaluation factor

**Boilerplate responses** — Tailor every proposal to the specific RFP

BidStacker's AI Advantage

Our AI reads the full RFP text and extracts key requirements, evaluation criteria, and compliance checkpoints. When you create a proposal, BidStacker's compliance checker ensures you've addressed every requirement.