Sample Request For Proposal (RFP)

This is an example of a basic "Request for Proposal" (RFP) outline that illustrates some essential points you might address for a new or updated site. Creating a document like this is a big task, but its rewards are many. The process will force you to organize your thinking, involve others, and make certain that Web developers know where you hope to go with your project.

Introduction

• Name and contact information about your organization and project team. (addresses, phones, titles, e-mail, etc.)

Executive Summary

• A brief overview of the company’s history and nature of your business.
• Description of the project and specific purpose.
• Proposal summary: timeline, desired format, budget, expectations of developer.

Project Goals

• What are your desired outcomes?
• How this project supports your organizational goals?
• How you will measure success of the project?
• What are your timelines?

Project Design Requirements

• What appeals to your audiences?
• What adjectives define your image?
• How should the site feel? Look?
• Overview of what the competition is doing.

Functional Requirements

• Where will the site be hosted.
• State your technical needs. (Database, Scalability, eCommerce, etc)
• Describe your preferred platform.

Project Scope

• Where will content come from? Formats?
• What development will be done in house, what will outsourced?
• State your priorities.

Key Personnel

• Who is on your internal team? (name, responsibility, phone, email)
• What personnel will be dedicated to the project in the future?

Summary

• Your vision for how this project will develop, and your expectations of your developer.