RFT Response Writing — Request for Tender Support Australia
A Request for Tender (RFT) is the most formal type of government procurement process — and the most competitive. Responding to an RFT requires a thorough understanding of the evaluation criteria, a structured approach to presenting evidence, and writing that is both technically precise and persuasive. Public Sector Contracts helps Australian businesses respond to RFTs with the professionalism and rigour that government procurement demands.
Our RFT response service covers every aspect of the submission — from reviewing the documentation and identifying key evaluation criteria, through to writing each section, reviewing for compliance, and preparing the final submission. We have experience across all levels of government RFTs and across a wide range of industry sectors.
We work with RFTs published on AusTender as well as state-based eTendering platforms and council portals, with experience across a range of contract values and sectors.
Criteria-Led Writing
Every section of your RFT response is written with the evaluation criteria at the forefront — we don’t write what sounds good, we write what scores well.
Compliance Check
We review your response against all mandatory requirements before submission — ensuring nothing is missed that could result in non-conformance.
Experienced Across All Sectors
We’ve written RFT responses for clients in construction, professional services, IT, Defence, health, and community services — across federal, state, and local government.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Request for Tender (RFT) in Australia?
A Request for Tender (RFT) is a formal document issued by a government agency or large organisation inviting suppliers to submit a detailed proposal for the supply of goods or services. RFTs specify the requirements, evaluation criteria, and submission requirements in detail. They are the most structured form of competitive procurement and typically represent the highest-value contract opportunities.
How do I find RFT opportunities in Australia?
Federal government RFTs are published on AusTender, while most states and territories run their own eTendering portals — for example NSW eTendering and the Victorian Government Marketplace. Local councils typically publish RFTs on their own websites, so it’s worth checking the specific platforms relevant to where you want to do business.
What is the difference between an RFT and an RFQ?
An RFT (Request for Tender) is generally used for larger, more complex procurements and involves a detailed, formally evaluated submission. An RFQ (Request for Quote) is typically used for smaller, simpler purchases and usually just requires a price and brief details, with a lighter evaluation process.
How much time do I need to respond to an RFT?
Most RFTs allow 3–6 weeks from release to closing date, though this varies by agency and contract complexity. We recommend starting work on a response as soon as the RFT is released, since a well-evidenced submission takes meaningful time to put together properly.
What are the most common reasons businesses fail in RFT evaluations?
The most common reasons we see are failing to directly address the stated evaluation criteria, submitting generic content that isn’t tailored to the specific opportunity, missing mandatory compliance requirements, and running out of time to properly evidence claims with examples. A structured, criteria-led approach avoids most of these pitfalls
15+ Years Experience
Clients Across Australia
Australian-Owned Business