Fewer than 3% of government solicitations are written in plain English. The good news: you don't need to read every page. Use this four-question framework on any RFP.
1. What do they need?
Skip to the scope of work / statement of work. In one or two sentences: what is the agency actually buying, and is it something you do? If the core need isn't your business, stop here.
2. Who can bid?
Check the set-aside type and any size standard. Is it open to all, or reserved for a certification (veteran-, women-owned, 8(a), HUBZone, small business)? If it's reserved and you're not certified, move on. (See our set-aside guide.)
3. What's the catch?
Look for the gotchas that quietly disqualify people:
- Is it a Sources Sought / RFI (market research, not a real bid yet)?
- Does it require bonding, a clearance, a site visit, or specific certifications?
- Is the turnaround very short, or is there a likely incumbent?
4. When is it due — and how do you respond?
Find the response deadline and the submission method. Government contracts go to whoever files correctly and on time, so put the date in your calendar immediately.
Make it faster
This framework is exactly how AskTuvo's plain-English summary works — for each matched contract we surface *what they need, who can bid, the catch, and respond-by* — so you can make a bid/no-bid call in seconds.