RFPs consume weeks partly because the first 2-3 days are spent just parsing what they're actually asking for. This workflow compresses that phase — extraction + scoring + response scaffold — into one focused day so the remaining time is spent on actual substantive answers.
Extract every requirement
Goal: Every explicit requirement pulled out as an actionable line.
Paste this RFP [attach the PDF or paste text]. Extract every explicit requirement — mandatory ('must') and desirable ('should'). Format as a table with columns: requirement, section number, mandatory/desirable, our current capability (leave blank).
Go/no-go scoring
Goal: Are we responding? Which mandatory requirements are blockers?
Fill in our current capability for each requirement above. For any 'M' (mandatory) where we can't say YES, flag it as a potential no-go. Recommend go/no-go with reasoning.
Response scaffold
Goal: Section-by-section outline of the response document.
Given the requirements above + our capability, produce a section-by-section outline of the response. For each section: what we'll cover, key evidence to include, standout points to lead with, weak spots to address preemptively.
Repeatability, not cleverness.
What lives where when the workflow finishes.
The scaffold above is the drafting outline. Assign sections to owners with deadlines. Standard turnaround: 5-7 days for a 30-40 page response after scaffold is set.
The same shape, different jobs.
- Small RFP version (<20 pages): compress into 60-min session, cut the executive summary to a paragraph.
- Government RFP version: add compliance-specific sections (CMMC, FedRAMP status, past-performance narratives).
Try this workflow once. Then decide if it earns a recurring slot.
The value compounds after the third run, not the first.