This Request for Proposal example shows how Alex Morgan, PMP, structured the formal RFP used to solicit proposals from web design agencies for Project Phoenix — a $72,250 website launch managed using the PMBOK Guide 8th Edition. A well-written RFP doesn't just attract vendors — it screens out unsuitable ones, ensures you receive comparable proposals, and sets the contractual foundation for the entire vendor relationship.

What Is a Request for Proposal?

A Request for Proposal (RFP) is a formal procurement document issued by an organization to invite potential vendors to submit proposals for delivering a specific scope of work. It outlines the project requirements, deliverables, evaluation criteria, submission requirements, and contract terms that will apply to the selected vendor. In PMBOK 8, RFPs are a key output of the Plan Procurement Management process within the Delivery and Planning Performance Domains. A good RFP reduces procurement risk by ensuring that vendor selection is based on transparent, documented criteria — protecting the organization from claims of bias and the project from vendor misalignment.

What's Inside This Request for Proposal Example

This Request for Proposal example for Project Phoenix includes:

• RFP scope: responsive corporate website redesign for MCG, including UX research, visual design, brand alignment, WCAG 2.1 AA accessibility compliance, and Figma handoff with annotated design system
• Statement of work: six deliverable packages (Design Brief, Wireframes, Visual Mockups Desktop, Visual Mockups Mobile, Design System, Revision Rounds) with specific acceptance criteria per deliverable
• Timeline: design phase March 14 to April 14, 2025 (22 working days), with milestone dates specified
• Proposal requirements: vendors must submit a technical approach document, team CVs (lead designer and UX researcher), three portfolio references for comparable corporate websites, and a fixed-price quote
• Selection criteria and weighting: technical capability and approach (40%), relevant experience and portfolio quality (30%), price competitiveness (20%), ESG credentials — green design practices, accessibility track record (10%)
• Vendor scoring matrix: BrightFrame selected with the highest score of 87/100 from five respondents; scoring rationale documented for audit trail
• Contract terms: fixed price, IP transfer upon final payment, 30-day post-delivery warranty, 48-hour response SLA for revision requests

How Alex Morgan Used This Request for Proposal

Alex Morgan issued the RFP to five pre-qualified agencies on February 15, 2025, with a proposal submission deadline of February 28. The 13-day window was deliberately compact — long enough for prepared agencies to respond, short enough to screen out vendors who were not organized enough to meet project deadlines. Five agencies responded; two were screened out for not meeting the WCAG accessibility requirement; three were evaluated on the full scoring matrix. BrightFrame's 87/100 score was driven primarily by their portfolio of three comparable B2B corporate website projects and their documented accessibility-first design process. The contract was signed on March 10, 2025 — exactly on the pre-project timeline.

Download and Customize

This Request for Proposal example is available as a free download. Use it as a reference to build your own RFP, or start with the blank template and fill it in for your project.

• Download the Request for Proposal Template — PMBOK 8 (blank, ready to use)
• Read the article: Request for Proposal in PMBOK 8 — Guide and Best Practices

Request for Proposal Example: Key Takeaways

The most powerful element of this Request for Proposal example is the ESG criterion — 10% of the scoring weight was allocated to the vendor's sustainability and accessibility credentials. This reflected MCG's organizational values and Riley Park's specific direction that the new website must meet accessibility standards for MCG's enterprise clients. By embedding this criterion in the RFP rather than asking about it informally, Alex Morgan ensured that BrightFrame's commitment to WCAG compliance was documented, scored, and contractually referenced — making it enforceable, not just aspirational. The final website passed WCAG 2.1 AA audit on the first attempt, a direct result of vendor selection based on demonstrated capability.

Want to go deeper? The PMBOK Guide 8th Edition is the definitive reference for modern project management. Get your copy and use it alongside these examples to build a solid, practical understanding of every performance domain.