RFP evaluation: How to bid strategically and win more

When a request for proposal (RFP) lands in your inbox, it’s tempting to jump into response mode. But savvy vendors know that the most important question isn’t “How do we win this?”, it’s “Should we respond at all?”

Winning more RFPs starts with evaluating fewer of the wrong ones. This guide will walk you through how to evaluate RFP responses and opportunities with a strategic lens using proven RFP evaluation criteria, scorecards, and client questioning strategies.

1. Think like a buyer and a seller

Smart RFP evaluation starts with perspective. While you’re deciding whether to bid, the buyer is already defining their evaluation criteria for the RFP selection process. Understanding how they score vendors helps you reverse-engineer your approach.

• What are the decision criteria in an RFP? These are the specific factors used to compare vendors, such as pricing, technical fit, past experience, implementation plan, and diversity initiatives.
  
• Most buyers use formal RFP evaluation criteria with weighted scoring or comparative analysis matrices.

Here are 47 potential RFP questions buyers can ask you, the vendor.

2. The go/no-go framework

Before diving into a proposal, apply a structured go/no-go RFP assessment to protect time, increase win rates, and avoid falling into a blind RFP trap.

Key RFP criteria to score:

• Account access: Do we know the buyer? Have we been tracking this opportunity?‍
• Technical fit: Can our solution fully meet the requirements?‍
• Competitive positioning: Who else is likely to bid?‍
• Resources: Do we have the bandwidth to deliver?‍
• Strategic value: Is this just revenue or a foothold in a strategic account?‍
• Timeline feasibility: Are deadlines realistic?
  

This framework prevents wasted effort on low-potential bids.

3. Internal qualification: Questions to ask before responding to an RFP

Your internal team should run through a comprehensive RFP questions for vendors checklist.

RFP questions for vendors:

• Is this a blind RFP, or do we have internal champions?
• How closely do our capabilities match the RFP criteria?
• Are the evaluation criteria for RFP responses clearly stated?
• What’s the cost of pursuing this versus the potential reward?
  

This internal RFP assessment helps reveal gaps, risk areas, or potential unfair advantages favoring competitors.

4. External discovery: RFP questions to ask the client or customer

Never respond to an RFP blindly. If engagement is permitted, here are essential RFP questions to ask client stakeholders to uncover their real goals and buying criteria.

Strategic discovery questions:

• What are the business drivers behind this RFP?
• What does success look like post-implementation?
• Are there RFP evaluation criteria examples we can reference?
• What RFP selection criteria matter most to your team?
  

Process and compliance questions:

• Who is on the evaluation committee?
• What is your decision timeline?
• Are there any non-negotiable legal or procurement terms?
• Will vendor demos be part of the process?
  

These RFP questions to ask customer contacts help you align your pitch to what they truly care about.

5. Spotting a blind RFP

A blind RFP is one where the buyer already has a preferred vendor and is just going through procurement motions. These are high-risk, low-win scenarios.

Red flags:

• No access to decision-makers
  
• Strict “no questions” policy
  
• Oddly specific requirements tailored to one vendor
  
• Unrealistic timelines with no flexibility
  

The best strategy for a blind RFP is often a strategic no-bid or a repositioning proposal.

6. Understanding how to evaluate RFP responses (from the buyer’s POV)

To respond effectively, understand how buyers assess your bid. Most use structured evaluation criteria for RFP responses.

Common methods:

• Weighted scoring: Assigning weights to RFP evaluation criteria (e.g., 40% technical fit, 30% pricing, 30% past experience)
  
• Evaluation matrix: Tabular comparison of vendors across RFP criteria
  
• Multi-stage review: Shortlisting, demos, negotiation rounds
  

Knowing this helps you align your response to the buyer’s RFP assessment process.

7. Say no strategically (and offer alternatives)

If the RFP isn’t right, consider:

• Offering a discovery workshop instead of a full proposal
  
• Suggesting a pilot program
  
• Proposing advisory or consulting support
  
• Recommending timeline or scope adjustments
  

This builds credibility and may reframe the conversation on your terms.

8. How AI is changing the game

AI platforms like SiftHub are transforming RFP evaluation and response with automation, intelligence, and speed.

Key capabilities:

• RFP auto-fill: Generate up to 75% of responses using existing knowledge
  
• Semantic search: Retrieve relevant data instantly
  
• Personalized drafts: Tailor content based on industry, persona, or product line
  
• Project tracking: Manage collaboration and deadlines across teams
  

This lets teams spend less time hunting for information and more time on strategic RFP assessment.

9. Build an RFP evaluation engine

Great teams don’t just evaluate better, they evaluate consistently.

Institutionalize RFP evaluation:

• Document win/loss insights tied to RFP evaluation criteria
  
• Create reusable RFP evaluation scorecards
  
• Train teams on RFP questions to ask the vendor and client stakeholders
  
• Track trends in RFP selection criteria by industry or vertical

Conclusion: Smarter RFP evaluation starts with better decisions

Winning RFPs isn't just about writing better responses. It starts with knowing where to invest your time. The most effective teams don’t chase every opportunity. They qualify with precision.

That’s where SiftHub’s bid/no-bid feature comes in. By combining AI-driven intelligence with your internal qualification criteria, SiftHub helps you identify red flags, align with buyer evaluation criteria, and prioritize high-fit opportunities.

Instead of spending hours debating which RFPs to pursue, your team can make confident, fast, and strategic decisions that lead to higher win rates and better resource allocation.

Make your go/no-go decisions smarter, not harder.

Try SiftHub's bid/no-bid feature and start winning where it matters.

Prompt suggestion

Want a custom RFP evaluation checklist for your team?

Copy and paste this prompt into ChatGPT or Gemini:

“Act as an RFP strategist. Create a custom RFP evaluation checklist and go/no-go framework for my team. Here's some context:

• Industry: [Insert your industry]
• Typical deal size: [Insert range]
• Sales cycle length: [Insert duration]
• Key challenges in RFPs: [e.g., blind RFPs, low win rate, resource strain]
• Current RFP process: [briefly describe]

I want a clear, actionable framework that includes:

• Internal qualification criteria
• RFP questions to ask the client
• Red flags for blind RFPs
• A scorecard template with weighted evaluation criteria
• Tips for saying no strategically

Format it as a checklist or phased process, and we can start using it immediately.”