The RFP Decides the Project's Success
An RFP (request for proposal) is a document telling vendors "what and how you'll evaluate to select." A vague RFP invites vague proposals and trouble later.
Items the RFP Must Include
- Background and purpose: why do it, the problem to solve (purpose, not means)
- Scope: state target work and out-of-scope
- Requirements: functional and non-functional (accuracy, performance, availability, security)
- Data conditions: provided data, training-use permissibility, storage location
- Evaluation criteria and weighting: publish the weights of price, accuracy, structure, track record
- Structure and schedule: milestones and role division
- Contract terms: IP, cancellation, SLA, penalties
AI-Project-Specific Additions
- Accuracy definition: by what metric and what % is passing (forbid vague "high accuracy")
- PoC handling: a clause to verify with your data before the main contract
- Model updates: handling of follow-up/extra cost when the foundation model changes
- Hallucination measures: responsibility boundary on wrong output
Creating the RFP with AI
Make a draft RFP to AI-ify work [XX]. Evaluation criteria emphasize accuracy, cost, security, operating structure. Also include AI-specific check items (training-use permissibility, accuracy definition, model updates).
Having AI make the draft and humans correcting it with company circumstances is fastest. Mask proper nouns/confidential before handing over.
