How to Find More RFPs & Win Them in 2026? Tips & Checklist

Your competitors aren’t winning more bids because their product is better. They’re winning because they consistently find and respond to more RFPs before you even notice them. This starts with having a reliable system for discovering the right RFP opportunities.

In this article, I’ll share where and how to find RFPs, best practices that improve win rates, and common mistakes to avoid. 

What Is an RFP & Why Companies Issue Them?

A Request For Proposal (RFP) is a procurement document issued by a company to invite potential vendors to propose solutions for its project. It normally includes the company’s needs, timelines, and evaluation criteria, which vendors use to personalize their responses.  

Benefits of using RFPs for companies:

• Cost optimization: Asking multiple vendors to bid helps companies compare prices and decide which vendor offers better return on investment. 

  
  

• Quality assurance: Comparing vendors’ skills and experience helps companies make a confident decision, avoid procurement risks, and ensure alignment with project requirements. 

  
  

• Standardization: A standard process makes it easier to compare vendors objectively and consistently.

  
  

• Clear expectations: Since the RFP process is documented, companies have a clear record of why a vendor was chosen and what commitments were made. If any promises are not met, vendors can be questioned. 

  
  

Main Types of RFPs Out There

RFPs usually fall into open, closed, and hybrid types. Understanding each RFP type helps you target the right opportunities for your ICP.

1. Open RFPs

   
   

Also known as public RFPs, open RFPs are bids that any company can respond to. While it is fairly easy to find these opportunities, the competition is intense, which may hurt your win rates. 

Government RFPs

The most common type of open RFPs are those issued by government bodies. These RFPs can be found on federal, state, and local procurement portals and often cover projects in infrastructure, IT, and consulting fields.

While these RFPs follow clear and transparent procedures, their requirements can be extensive and complex. Governments also frequently require specific certifications - if you don’t have them timely ready, you’ll lose out. 

Education RFPs

These open RFPs are issued by schools and universities. One advantage of working with such clients is that partnerships with them tend to be long-term. Once they find a reliable vendor, they often continue the relationship for years.

However, budget considerations play a major role in their decisions. This means a competitor with fewer features but affordable pricing could get an upper edge.

2. Closed RFPs

   
   

Closed RFPs are invitation-only opportunities sent to pre-selected vendors based on past relationships, recommendations, or subscriptions to different groups/databases. 

Business RFPs

Private companies issue these RFPs for technology, marketing, consulting, and operational needs.

Since these RFPs are shared with a limited group of vendors, the competition is lower and companies have a stronger chance of winning the bid. 

That being said, if you don’t have strong industry networks and relationships, you’ll miss out on business RFP opportunities - even if they are highly relevant to you.  

Consultant and Broker Management RFPs

For niche projects, companies often work with consultants or brokers who have deep expertise in their industry. These consultants issue RFPs on the company’s behalf because they understand the market, the key vendors, and how to evaluate them effectively.

If you’re not on these brokers’ radar, you may miss out on valuable opportunities and potential clients.

3. Hybrid RFPs

   
   

Hybrid RFPs blend features of both open and closed RFPs. They are shared with a selected group of vendors while also leaving room for other interested vendors to submit a proposal response.

Hybrid RFPs are helpful for newer vendors in the industry who may not yet have strong relationships with consultants or brokers, giving them a chance to compete alongside established players. 

But the outcome and turnaround time is usually not predictable for hybrid RFPs because the number and quality of incoming proposals can vary widely.

Where to Find RFPs and How to Get Them

Finding the right RFPs consistently requires knowing where to look and then implementing a system for monitoring them. Below are the five primary channels on where to find RFPs:

Government Procurement Platforms 

Government RFPs are posted on federal, state, provincial, and local portals. These platforms are reliable because they follow strict timelines, publish detailed requirements, and cover everything from technology to construction.

Some common government procurement platforms include: 

Pro Tip: Most government portals let you subscribe to updates based on keywords, like IT services, construction, etc. Once you do, new opportunities land directly in your inbox the moment they’re published.

RFP Aggregator Platforms 

These aggregators crawl thousands of sites daily to consolidate opportunities into searchable databases. These platforms have a strong filtering system, so you can search for RFPs based on location, industry, budget size, etc. 

Some aggregators like BidsInfo can be accessed free of charge, but for others, like TendersOnTime, you need to pay a subscription rate to access RFPs. 

Pro Tip: Tools like AutoRFP.ai can help you monitor these portals automatically and alert you to relevant RFPs, saving hours of manual search while ensuring you never miss winning opportunities.

Enterprise Procurement Portals

Large companies in sectors like telecom, banking, and construction often run their own procurement portals where they publish RFPs for registered vendors. To access these opportunities, vendors need to register on each company’s portal. 

Keeping your vendor profile complete and up to date is critical. Procurement teams often filter vendors based on compliance documents, certifications, budgets, and past performance. If any of these fields are incomplete or outdated, you may not be shortlisted.

Industry-Specific Sources

Different industries use their own specialized procurement portals/groups where companies regularly post RFPs for vendors in that sector. These platforms act as central hubs, making it easier for vendors to find opportunities that match their expertise. Examples include Open Minds for healthcare and Philanthropy News Digest for nonprofit RFPs.

Subscribe to specialized portals, join trade associations, and monitor industry newsletters to find timely RFP opportunities.