What is an RFI and should I respond?
A Request for Information (RFI) is a pre-solicitation document where the agency asks vendors for capability information before issuing an RFP. RFIs are not contracts and create no obligation. Responding strategically influences the eventual RFP in your favor — yes, you should usually respond to RFIs in your domain.
RFIs are market-research instruments. The agency does not commit to an award, and vendors do not commit to anything by responding. But responding well is one of the highest-leverage activities in federal business development.
Why agencies issue RFIs: - To learn what is technically feasible before writing requirements - To gauge market pricing - To assess whether enough qualified vendors exist to support a small-business set-aside - To identify potential incumbents and competitors - To draft an RFP that gets quality responses
What you should include in an RFI response: - Your capability statement aligned to the RFI questions - Recommendations on how the agency could structure the RFP for better outcomes - Suggestions on small-business set-aside feasibility - Technical recommendations that play to your strengths - Pricing benchmarks (be careful — RFI prices set agency expectations)
What you should NOT include: - Proprietary detailed solutions you would not want competitors to see - Pricing too detailed to walk back later - Promises you cannot keep
A well-written RFI response can shape the eventual RFP in ways that favor your approach. Many federal procurement officers explicitly use RFI inputs when drafting solicitations. Conversely, ignoring RFIs in your domain means the RFP will be shaped by your competitors' inputs.