Course 4
Sources Sought and RFI Response Workshop
Teaches users how to respond to early-stage notices strategically, truthfully, and professionally before an RFQ or RFP is released.
What This Course Helps You Do
- Understand Sources Sought, RFI, Draft RFP, and market research notices.
- Use responses to show capability and provide useful market feedback.
- Support set-aside and acquisition planning without overstepping.
- Track early notices into a future pipeline.
Templates
Module 1Early-Stage Notices
2 lessons
Lesson 1
Sources Sought
A Sources Sought notice usually asks who in the market may be capable of performing the requirement. It can help the government assess capable vendors, small business interest, NAICS, set-aside potential, scope, vehicles, and competition.
Lesson 2
RFI
An RFI gathers market, technical, pricing, commercial, or acquisition information. A good response helps the government improve its future solicitation rather than simply selling the company.
Module 2Strategic Purpose
2 lessons
Lesson 1
How Early Responses Matter
Early responses can influence acquisition strategy, including set-aside approach, NAICS, vehicle, scope, transition timing, commercial practices, and competition barriers. They do not guarantee future award.
Lesson 2
Rule of Two Awareness
For many acquisitions, capable small business responses can support the government's assessment of whether small business set-aside is reasonable. The response should demonstrate capability, responsibility, and fair-market potential.
Module 3Response Decision and Structure
2 lessons
Lesson 1
Should You Respond?
Use a response scorecard: capability fit, agency fit, geography, past experience, small business relevance, strategic value, response burden, and market insight.
Lesson 2
Strong Response Structure
Include cover information, company overview, business status, relevant capability, relevant experience, capacity, answers to questions, NAICS/PSC feedback, technical/market feedback, questions, and POC.
Module 4Capability Evidence and Feedback
4 lessons
Lesson 1
Describe Capability and Capacity
Capability says what the company can do. Capacity says how much it can handle. Show staff, equipment, geography, subcontractor support, management systems, and past scale.
Lesson 2
Relevant Experience
Use commercial, subcontractor, key personnel, or federal experience honestly. Explain role and relevance by scope, size, complexity, location, standards, and results.
Lesson 3
NAICS, PSC, and Set-Aside Feedback
Suggest codes based on the principal purpose of the work, not merely what benefits your company. State small business/certification status clearly and accurately.
Lesson 4
Technical, Pricing, and Acquisition Feedback
Useful RFI feedback identifies cost drivers, realistic timelines, commercial practices, contract-type considerations, workload data needs, and barriers to competition.
Module 5Protection and Follow-Up
2 lessons
Lesson 1
Protect Proprietary Information
Be helpful but do not overshare proprietary processes, pricing formulas, confidential customer data, employee personal data, cyber architecture, or sensitive supplier terms.
Lesson 2
Track After Response
Save the response, notice number, agency, contact, submitted recommendations, future solicitation, incumbent, and follow-up date. Early responses should feed the pipeline.
Final Exercise
- Choose a Sources Sought/RFI.
- Score whether to respond.
- Draft tailored capability response, feedback, questions, and pipeline follow-up.
Final Takeaway
Sources Sought and RFIs are early signals. Use them to be useful, specific, credible, and early.