1. Contracting Officer Podcast Slides
Knowledge & Insights From Contracting Officers

2. What is the Difference Between an RFI, a DRFP, and an RFP?
Episode 008
What is the Difference Between an RFI, a DRFP, and an RFP?
Original Air Date: January 5, 2015
Hosts: Kevin Jans & Paul Schauer

3. Formatting notes
Hyperlinks: Blue font indicates hyperlinks – presentation must be in ‘Slide Show’ mode to activate the link
Red bold font indicates a point of emphasis
Green bold font indicates CO’s personal comment or perspective

4. Overview
This episode explains the difference between a Request for Information (RFI), the Draft RFP (DRFP), and the Request for Proposal (RFP)
Why does the Contracting Officer use them?
What are they used for?
When do these documents appear (which Acquisition Time Zone)
What communication is allowed in each?
What do Government and Industry do with each?

5. When does an RFI, DRFP, and RFP happen?
Acquisition Time Zones
(from Podcast Episode 003)
Requirements Zone
Market Research Zone
RFP Zone (proposal zone)
Source Selection Zone
Execution Time Zones
(from Podcast Episode 084)
Kick Off Zone
Performance Zone
Re-compete Zone (well, sort of… )
Wrap-up Zone

6. Request for Information
Government wants to learn:
Technical - Industry capabilities
Number of qualified companies
Relative time to deliver
Different solutions available
Is the requirement feasible

7. Request for Information
Small business set aside (when applicable)
Relative cost
This is your chance to market your solution and shape the RFP
Open communication allowed and encouraged
Private conversations take place here
Might hold a bidders conference here

8. Draft Request for Proposals (DRFP)
Government wants to learn:
Will selected Evaluation criteria lead to the desired solution?
Will selected Evaluation criteria unfairly favor one or more offerors?
Last chance to influence the selection criteria in your favor
Open communication
Allowed, but generally more guarded
Q&A controlled by CO
Often published for all offerors to see
If there is a bidder's conference, this is often when it happens

9. Draft Request for Proposals (DRFP)
Open communication (continued)
Questions & Answers controlled by CO
Often published for all offerors to see
If there is a bidder's conference, this is often when it happens

10. Request for Proposals (RFP)
The real deal, no more changes
Except for RFP Amendments (but do not count on them)
Your proposal must comply with the RFP as written
No more chances to influence selection outside of your proposal
Communication strictly controlled
All must flow through CO; usually a Q&A period, published for all to see

11. Summary RFI – Used in Zone 2 - Market Research to shape the DRFP
DRFP – Used in Zone 2 – Market Research to shape and finalize the RFP
RFP – Used in Zone 3 to specify requirements, and how proposals must be submitted

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