Federal Contracting Acronym
RFP
Request for Proposal
Plain-English definition
A Request for Proposal (FAR Part 15 or streamlined equivalents) describes requirements, instructions to offerors (often Section L), evaluation factors (Section M), and submission logistics. Agencies use RFPs when trade-offs among technical merit, past performance, and price are expected. Proposal teams translate RFP paragraphs into compliance matrices, management plans, and priced BOEs. RFPs differ from RFQs (quote-focused) and RFIs (market research).
Why it matters
RFPs drive the highest proposal labor investment; misinterpreting Section L/M is a leading cause of noncompliance and lost evaluations.
Where you will see it
SAM.gov, agency portals, capture pipelines, and color-team review packages.
Example in context
Evaluators score written approaches against Section M factors while contracting staff verify offerors met every Section L instruction.
Related acronyms
- 8C
- AAC
- AC
- AP
- AS
- AS2
- AS4
- ACWP
- AS3
- AC2
- API
- AP2
- BR
- BAFO
- BCWP
- BCWS
- BC
- BE
- BVTO
- CV
- CAO
- CAPTURE PLAN
- CAR
- CFD
- CFED
- CA2
- CLIN
- CS4
- CS
- COLOR TEAM
- CR2
- COMPLIANCE MATRIX
- CONMON
- CS2
- CD2
- CN3
- CD
- CA
- CR
- CS3
- CPOC
- CN
- CV2
- DBE
- DD 1155
- DD 1423
- DD 1594
- DD 1610
- DD 1639
- DD 1659
- DD 441
- DD 882
- DAG
- DN
- DF
- DA
- DE
- DL
- DT2
- DLMS
- DT
- DS
- E QIP
- ER
- EA
- EV
- EC
- FAR
- FAR 15
- FCA
- FFATA
- FD
- FR
- FT
- FP
- FN
- FPR
- FPRR
- GFE
- GFI
- GFP
- GC
- HC
- HC3
- HC2
- ICR
- ICS
- IDIQ
- IMP
- IMS
- IK
- IS
- IC
- IV
- ISSM
- ISSO
- IUID
- JPAS
- JA
- KC
- KD
- LH
- LT
- LE
- MF
- MPA
- MILSTRIP
- MOD
- MN
- MFC
- MSA
- NCR
- NDA
- NT
- NISP
- NISPOM
- NG
- OBS
- OCI
- OP
- ON
- PAR
- PPE
- PCL
- PBP
- PS
- PS2
- PS3
- PIIN
- PNM
- PAO
- PAS
- PRAN
- PR3
- PR
- PG
- PP
- PR2
- PV
- PWS
- QASP
- QML
- QPL
- RC
- RESPONSIBI
- RFI
- RR
- RFQ
- RS
- SA
- SAM.GOV
- SG
- SP3
- SP2
- SR
- SU
- SBOM
- SC4
- SC3
- SECTION L
- SECTION M
- SF 1034
- SF 1035
- SF 1408
- SF 1411
- SF 1423
- SF 1442
- SF-1449
- SF 18
- SF 312
- SF-33
- SF 424
- SF 86
- SF LLL
- SC2
- SC
- SS
- SOO
- SOW
- SSAP
- SSO
- SWO
- SV
- TCPI
- TDP
- TEAMING
- TE
- TIBA
- TOC
- TRADEOFF
- UV
- UID
- UA
- VR
- VC
- VD
- WC
- ZD