provide a substantive reply: "Request For Proposal (RFP) What is the purpose of an RFP? An RFP is a document prepared by the customer that defines project requirements and is used to solicit bids from contractors to do the project. An RFP allows customers to set expectations and give contractors expections so they can build a proposal that meets the expectations of the customer. Where have you seen or used an RFP? I have not seen one myself but once I heard the definition my first thought was construction. My step-dad is a contractor and he reviews these types of requests in order to bid on jobs. Describe the five guidelines for drafting a formal RFP when hiring external contractors. 1. Must state the project objective including any background information that may be important, 2. Must contain a statement of work or SOW which outlines all major tasks and deliverables for the scope of the projects, 3. Must contain customer requirements.Requirements cover size, quantity, color, weight, speed, and other physical oroperational guidlines needed for the contractor to make a well-rounded proposal to the customer, 4. Should state acceptance criteria the customer will use to determine that the work is complete