What Does It Mean When an RFP Is Thrown Out?

The world of RFPs is high-risk and high-reward. It takes a significant investment of time and resources to respond to a Request for Proposals properly. Competition is fierce, and there’s never a guarantee that you will win the bid. In fact, there is never a guarantee that your bid will be considered at all. That’s because there’s always a chance that an RFP will be scrapped and re-issued—and not always by choice.

Why an RFP Can Be Thrown Out

Sometimes, an issuing organization such as an airport will receive only a few proposals in response to an RFP. If the airport decides they need to consider additional bids, then they will throw out the original request and rebid the contracts. Other times, problems with the RFP or the solicitation process are uncovered. This was the case for the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL). The bidding process began in 2017, was put on hold for more than a year amid an investigation, and was eventually terminated in early 2019. The RFP was then re-issued in January of this year.

What to Expect If the RFP is Re-Issued

Whatever the reason that an RFP is tossed out, there is no guarantee that it will be re-issued. If it is, there’s also no guarantee that the re-issued solicitation will mirror the original. New RFPs may require substantially different documentation. They may offer entirely new contracts. Or, in some cases, they may be largely the same. It’s up to you as a respondent to read through the new RFP and determine which sections and requirements, if any, have changed.

How to Respond (Again)

If a re-issued solicitation does not have many changes, then it makes sense to re-use your original proposal (in whole or in part). There are typically no regulations that prevent you from submitting the same proposal again. Of course, you need to first determine whether a different response is warranted. Has the required documentation changed? Are the contract terms the same? There are often changes to a re-issued RFP, including changes to the submission format (e.g. requiring an electronic submission rather than a physical one). Be diligent when reviewing any RFP. Even the slightest deviation from the requirements can result in your proposal being disqualified. That said, the good news is that a re-issued RFP can provide you with a second chance if your original submission was rejected. There is still no guarantee that your investment will pay off the second time around, but there is ample opportunity to improve your chances.

Here at Diace Designs, we know all about the process of bidding (and rebidding) multi-year, multi-million dollar contracts. Our expert proposal designs have helped businesses large and small win coveted contracts worth hundreds of millions of dollars. If you’re considering responding to an RFP, contact us. We can help you navigate through the complexities to give you the best chance at securing a high-value contract of your own.

About Kara Franco
Kara writes copy that speaks. She has a knack for creating clear, compelling messages without wasting words. She is passionate about digital marketing and believes that copy is the cornerstone of user experience.

Copywriter + Content Strategist
Kara@diacedesigns.com