Compliance is pass/fail. Everything else is scored.
Most federal RFPs follow the Uniform Contract Format. Section L tells you how to write and organize the proposal. Section M tells you how it will be evaluated. Section C (or the PWS/SOW) describes the work. A compliance matrix ties all three together so that every "shall," "must," and "will" has an owner and a place in your response.
Evaluators can eliminate a proposal that ignores page limits, formatting rules, or required content, no matter how strong the solution is. They score what they can find, so use their words and their paragraph numbers.
Solicitation
Requirements matrix
Shred the RFP: add one row for every instruction or requirement. Start with Section L, then map each row to Section M and the PWS.
| # | Sec. L ref | Requirement (quote it) | Sec. M ref | PWS / C ref | Proposal location | Owner | Status |
|---|
Shredding tips
- Search the whole RFP for shall, must, will, should, provide, describe, demonstrate. Each one is a row.
- Copy the requirement word for word, then reuse the same words as headings in your volume.
- Don't forget sections H and I, the attachments, and Q&A amendments. Every amendment must be acknowledged (SF-30 or as instructed).
- Do a final compliance check against this matrix before Gold Team review, not after.
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