If you are about to begin your mobile app development project or want to optimize the existing one, then you will need a mobile RFP or request for proposal. When you are working on a mobile app development project you would want to invest in app development services. Looking for a business that can provide these services to you can sometimes be a challenge. You need to ensure that you pick a business that is fully equipped to cater to your needs. For this you will also need to assess all the requirements of your project to have clarity on what you need help with.

A mobile app RFP enables you to assess and analyze your project requirements so that you can find a development partner who matches your criteria. We will look at how to write a mobile app RFP document to assess your project requirements and shop for vendors who can offer the app development services you need.

What is an RFP Document?

A mobile app RFP or request for proposal document is key to finding the best app development services that match your business needs. When engaging in these services you make a big investment, hence, you need to ensure that the development partner is the right match for you. You put together an RFP document to communicate your app development project size, requirements and more for the prospective vendors.

The aim of an RFP document is to help you make the right purchase decision when you invest in these development services. To develop a successful app, you want your development partner to understand your vision for your project and business. Choosing a business who is not the right match for your project can cause delays and wastage of time and resources. Hence, with the RFP document you can focus on choosing the right app development services for your business.

How To Write a Mobile App RFP Document?

The RFP document will include two main sections. The first section would be completed by you, and the second section is to be completed by the vendor.

Section One

This section includes information about your business and the mobile app you want to develop. It communicates what your mobile app is about and what solutions you need, to the prospective vendors.

Executive Summary

The beginning of this document should introduce your company to the prospective vendors. Write a summary about your organization, project goals, and vision. Give a summary of what you want to achieve in this project and the solutions you are looking for.

Company Information

Provide an overview of your company. Give information about what products or services your business provides and what industry it caters to. Mention the key stakeholders or decision makers in your organization. Write about what problems your company is trying to solve and how does your mobile app help your target customers.

Project Summary

The prospective vendors should know all the relevant details about your project. Describe your project goals, vision, and the problem you are trying to solve with your mobile app. Include user personas and user journey to illustrate who your target customers are. The app developer needs to know the key pain points of your target users and how your mobile app will provide a solution.

Discuss the limitations of the app that may stop your users from converting. For example, if the users find the interface complex then they may not engage. Having these limitations listed can help you eliminate them and create successful app. Write future goals for your app or any improvements you would make after the mobile app is launched.

Functionality

This part will include the description of what you want your mobile app to look like. Include the description of each feature your mobile app will have. Add wireframes and app prototypes to give a clarity on the design and interface of your app.

Use Cases

How will your users interact with your mobile app? Write about the use-case of the app to determine how the app will be used by6 your target users.

Key Stakeholders

Mention the key decision-makers of your project and other team members involved.

Project Requirements

 Services

Mention what services you require throughout the project lifecycle. The prospective vendors should have clarity on what solutions you need for your project. Here are some services that you will most likely need:

• Consultation
• Development
• UX and UI design
• Testing

Platforms

Mention the platforms you want to build your app on whether it’s iOS, Android, or others. Choosing a platform should be your main priority as it can help determine the amount of cost and time it would take to build your app. If you are building for multiple platforms, then the cost will be more, and it would take longer to build. Different platforms have different criteria for app building and submission. Hence, it is important to be clear about where you want to build your app.

Related Topic:

iOS vs Android: Which Platform To Build For First?

Backend Requirements

Include if you are using any existing systems or technology like CMS and API. If you have a requirement for these then inform the prospective vendors as these are important to help build your app.

Push Notifications

If you plan on using push notifications to drive app engagement and retention, then include this in your RFP. Mention how you want your push notifications to be customized and their frequency.

Analytics

You will need data to track the performance of your mobile app. Include the type of data you want to collect to analyze app performance.

Project Budget

Setting a budget is the most crucial part of your project. A budget will inform the vendors about how much you are willing to spend on this project and if they can work within these limits.

Project Timeline

Have a project timeline that sets deadlines and important events like launch dates. If you need the project completed in a certain time or when you want the development process to start, all these dates should be mentioned. This helps the vendors to determine if they can deliver within these time limits.

Section Two

This section is for the prospective vendor to complete. Include all the relevant questions you want the vendors to answer so that you can decide which app development company you want to invest in.

Company Overview

In this section you ask the vendors to provide an overview of their company. Here are some of the questions you can include:

• How long has the company been operating?
• What is the mission and vision?
• What is the company size?
• Team member and their level of expertise in various aspects of development
• Business location

You can add more questions that will be relevant to your project or business.

Services

Here ask the vendors to list all their services they offer with description.

Case Studies

In this section ask the vendors to provide a list of clients or projects they have previously worked on. This helps you gauge the level of experience and expertise the vendor has.

Solution

In the previous section you have given all the relevant information related to your project and the problems that you seek help with. Here the vendors will give an overview of the solution they will provide.

You can ask them various questions like what solution they will offer, team member who will be involved, tools or technology and platforms that will be used, and more.

Timeline

Ask the vendor to provide a project timeline including the start dates, scheduled tasks, and deliverables.

Costs

Here request the vendors to provide the estimated costs. Ask them to include a breakdown of the price.

Maintenance

The vendor should provide details about the type of services and support plans they will offer along with the costs.

To create a successful mobile app RFP, you need to have a deep understanding about your project and all the requirements. An RFP document helps you communicate the size and scope of your project to your vendors. It helps you understand your own project needs and the budget you can work with. With an RFP you can get quotes from qualified vendors who can offer you the best solution. Moreover, it becomes easier to choose the right vendor to avoid any mistakes or complexities in the future.