How can we use RFP ambiguity to our advantage?

There are occasions when some Request for Proposal or RFPs are disorganized in a way that considerable time is required to be spent to interpret and translate its different ambiguous parts. A meaningful understanding of the RFP provides an opportunity to understand the customer’s needs.

An ambiguity in the RFP is an obstacle as well an opportunity at the same time. It is an obstacle because any wrong interpretation of the customer needs can lead to a loss over a bid. It is an opportunity in a sense it provides a freedom to propose new developmental or production tasks. The introduction of these tasks can add quality to the bidding proposal and could hence suggest further improvements that were not considered by the customers at the time of preparing the RFP. There are cost risks when interpreting the RFP which should be considered before any attempt to do so.