The Solicitation/RFP

Learning about the RFP process:
The RFP is a formal process mandated under NM law and applicable to the expenditure of public funds in NM. It is a process required for solicitation of contracts by public agencies involving professional services and in certain instances, other types of services and/or commodities, valued at over $60,000. Public agencies include state government, legislative and judicial branches, counties, cities/municipalities, schools and school districts.

The jargon:
It is important when reading and responding to an RFP to understand some basic terms used. Usually, the RFP document will contain a list of definitions of terms used in the document, but not always. Here is a list of common terms associated with RFPs:

• Addendum (plural Addenda) – Written document containing changes to the RFP document or
  providing additional information regarding an RFP.
• Agency – a public entity; may be a school, school district, state, county or city government entity; In
  RFPs, it can refer to the entity issuing the RFP and may also refer to entities who utilize an awarded
  contract to issue orders to contractors (Participating Agency)
• Contractor – Individual or company that has been awarded a contract under an RFP.
• Local Public Body – every political subdivision of the state of NM and the agencies, instrumentalities,
  and institutions thereof, including two-year post-secondary educational institutions, school districts and
  local school boards and municipalities, except as exempted pursuant to the Procurement Code.
• Offer – a proposal submitted in response to an RFP
• Offeror – An individual or company that submits a proposal in response to an RFP