The Request for Tender (RFT), explained

The Request for Tender is the workhorse document of Australian government procurement — the formal invitation to bid, and the rulebook for how your response will be judged. Learn to read one quickly and you'll respond better than most of the field.

RFT vs RFQ vs EOI

An RFT is the full formal process: detailed requirements, weighted evaluation criteria, a draft contract, and a binding offer from you. An RFQ (Request for Quote) is its lighter sibling for simpler, lower-value purchases — often price-dominant. An EOI comes before either: a capability-stage filter used to shortlist suppliers for a subsequent RFT — we cover it fully in our EOI guide. You'll also see RFP (proposal — more solution-open) and ITO (invitation to offer, common on QTenders).

Anatomy of an RFT

• Conditions of tender — the process rules: lodgement method, deadline, validity period, probity contacts. Break these and you're out before evaluation.
• Statement of requirement / specification — what's being bought. Read twice; scope surprises live here.
• Evaluation criteria — mandatory (pass/fail) and weighted (scored). This section tells you exactly where points are won.
• Response schedules — the forms you complete. Evaluators mark schedules, not cover letters.
• Draft contract — the terms you're agreeing to bid against. Flag departures explicitly; silent non-acceptance scores badly.
• Addenda — issued during the tender period, and binding. Missing an addendum is a classic elimination story.

Mandatory vs weighted criteria

Mandatory criteria are gates: insurance levels, licences, certifications, mandatory declarations. Fail one and the rest of your response is never read. Weighted criteria are where evaluation points are distributed — typically capability and experience, methodology, personnel, price, and often local participation. Structure your response so each weighted criterion gets its own clearly-headed section with evidence. Our response template guide gives you the skeleton.

Responding efficiently

Start with a compliance matrix: every requirement, mapped to where you address it. Draft to the weightings — a 40% methodology criterion deserves 40% of your effort. Modern bid teams accelerate this with AI drafting grounded in the live tender document: summarise criteria, generate the skeleton, gap-check the draft. And find RFTs early enough to do all this properly — a live feed beats discovering the RFT in week three of a four-week window.

Frequently asked questions

Is an RFT legally binding?

Your tender response is typically a binding offer, open for acceptance during the validity period. The RFT itself sets the process rules the agency must follow.

Can I ask questions during an RFT?

Yes — through the nominated contact, before the clarification cut-off. Answers are usually circulated to all bidders as addenda, so ask strategically.

What if I can't meet one requirement?

If it's mandatory, generally don't bid — seek clarification first if it's ambiguous. If it's weighted, you can still win on strength elsewhere; address the gap honestly with a mitigation.