Government employees often fear that collaborating with prospective vendors or outside stakeholders crosses over a legal line and creates an unfair advantage. However, it is generally acceptable to communicate with potential vendors in a fair and open way before a formal solicitation has been released. Through a Request for Information (RFI), governments can solicit ideas from the vendor community, subject matter experts, and community stakeholders while maintaining a level playing field.
This RFI template will help you develop an RFI that is a powerful tool to 1) gather valuable information from the vendor community and other stakeholders to inform the design of a subsequent RFP; 2) learn about new technologies, innovations, or approaches; and 3) make decisions about project scope, program structure, and what might reasonably be asked of a vendor.