Solicitation

Solicitation is the broad term for documents such as RFPs, RFQs, RFIs, BAAs, CSOs, and SBIR topic announcements. Each type has different rules, evaluation criteria, and expectations.

Startups should read solicitations with discipline. Instructions, due dates, page limits, attachments, representations, and evaluation factors are not suggestions. Missing a requirement can make a strong technical idea nonresponsive.