An RFP (Request for Proposal) is a formal document issued by a prospect organization that solicits structured proposals from multiple vendors according to a defined set of requirements, evaluation criteria, and timeline. RFPs are common in enterprise, government, and regulated-industry procurement. Many experienced sales leaders advise caution when responding to unsolicited RFPs — if a vendor didn't help shape the requirements, they are likely filling a slot to satisfy procurement policy while a preferred vendor has already won internally.