How many questions you ask in an RFP or bid varies by market, contract size, and type of bid. In tenders, suppliers often ask many more questions than in RFPs. That’s because of strict legislation. Asking questions is then necessary to get the legal frameworks clear. With RFPs, there are often far fewer because that need is lacking.
Remember that asking questions is always encouraged, but answering them often takes time. The more questions you ask, the longer it takes to get good answers, or people only give concise answers.
So ask only questions that are strictly necessary to answer a bid and ensure you understand the legal framework. Leading questions that put your service or product in a better light are annoying to the customer and tip off your competitor. After all, who gets to see the answers too?
Want to learn more about bids? Below each links to articles:
