RFP Visibility: Public vs Private

RFP Visibility: Public vs Private

In 14Build, clients can choose between Public and Private visibility settings when publishing an RFP. These options ensure that tenders are either open to all contractors or restricted to a selected group. Visibility settings provide flexibility for clients to manage how RFPs are accessed and responded to.

---

1. Visibility Options

Visibility Setting	Description	Use Case
Public	Open to all contractors on the platform.	For broad tendering to attract more bids.
Private	Restricted to invited contractors only.	For confidential projects or trusted bidders.

---

2. Configuring RFP Visibility

Step 1: Access the RFP Creation Page

1. Navigate to the Project Dashboard.
2. Open the Create RFP form under the selected project.

---

Step 2: Select Visibility Options

1. Scroll to the Visibility section of the RFP form.
2. Choose one of the following options:

Option 1: Public RFP

• Select Public to make the RFP visible to all contractors on the platform.
• Notifications will be sent to contractors matching the project category.

Example Public RFP Configuration:

{
  "tender_id": "tender-12345",
  "visibility": "public",
  "category": "Concrete",
  "invited_contractors": []
}

Option 2: Private RFP

• Select Private to restrict access to invited contractors.
• Use the Invite Contractors feature to add specific contractors.

Steps to Invite Contractors:

1. Click “Invite Contractors” in the Visibility section.
2. Search for contractors by name, category, or location.
3. Select and invite contractors.

Example Private RFP Configuration:

{
  "tender_id": "tender-12345",
  "visibility": "private",
  "invited_contractors": ["contractor-567", "contractor-890"]
}

---

3. Public vs Private RFP Workflow

flowchart TD
A[Create RFP] --> B{Select Visibility}
B -->|Public| C[Open to All Contractors]
B -->|Private| D[Invite Specific Contractors]
C --> E[Contractors Submit Bids]
D --> E[Contractors Submit Bids]
E --> F[Client Reviews Bids]
F --> G[Award Winning Bid]

---

4. Notifications Based on Visibility

Visibility Setting	Notification Recipients	Message
Public	All contractors matching the RFP category.	”A new tender is available: [RFP Name].”
Private	Only invited contractors.	”You’ve been invited to bid on [RFP Name].“

---

5. Managing Private Invitations

Clients can manage private invitations as follows:

• Edit Invitations: Add or remove contractors from the invitation list.
• Resend Invitations: Resend notifications to invited contractors.
• Track Responses: View which contractors have viewed or submitted bids.

---

6. Benefits of Public vs Private RFPs

Feature	Public RFP	Private RFP
Visibility	Visible to all platform contractors.	Restricted to selected contractors.
Bidding Volume	Higher number of bids.	Limited to trusted contractors.
Confidentiality	Lower confidentiality.	High confidentiality for sensitive work.
Targeted Approach	Broad invitation to new contractors.	Focused approach for trusted bidders.

---

7. Use Cases for Visibility Settings

Scenario	Recommended Visibility
Large-scale public project with open bids.	Public
Private residential project.	Private
High-value tender requiring trusted bidders.	Private
Government or commercial open tenders.	Public

---

8. Security and Access Control

1. Role-Based Permissions: Only authorized project managers can change visibility settings.
2. Audit Logs: Visibility changes are logged with timestamps for transparency.
3. Encrypted Invitations: Private invitations are securely sent and tracked.

---

9. Summary

The RFP Visibility Settings in 14Build provide flexibility to:

• Reach a Broad Audience: Use Public RFPs to invite all eligible contractors.
• Ensure Confidentiality: Use Private RFPs for selected contractors.
• Streamline Invitations: Manage invited contractors and track responses efficiently.

---