Reading an opportunity listing

When you click on a search result, you'll see the full opportunity listing. Here's how to read it and what each section means.

Header

The header shows the opportunity's key identifiers at a glance:

• Title — the official name of the solicitation as posted by the agency
• Opportunity type — RFP, RFQ, RFI, ITB, etc.
• Solicitation number — the agency's internal reference number for this bid (useful when calling or emailing the agency)

Agency information

• Issuing agency — the government entity posting the opportunity
• Agency type — federal, state, city, school district, etc.
• Location — the state and, where available, city or county

Dates

• Posted date — when the opportunity was first published
• Due date / Closing date — the deadline for submitting a response. This is the most important date — missing it means you cannot respond.
• Pre-bid conference — some opportunities require or offer a pre-bid meeting; the date and location are listed here if applicable
• Questions deadline — the last date on which you can submit written questions to the issuing agency

Description

The description is the body text of the solicitation as extracted from the source portal. It typically describes:

• What is being procured (scope of work or specification)
• Eligibility requirements (certifications, insurance, registration)
• Submission requirements (format, number of copies, method of delivery)

Read this section carefully before deciding whether to respond.

Categories / NAICS

Where available, the NAICS code(s) associated with the opportunity are listed. These can help you gauge fit.

Contacts

The name, title, email, and/or phone number of the procurement officer or buyer managing the solicitation. Use this contact for procurement-related questions only (not for sales outreach).

Source link

At the bottom of every listing is a View source button that takes you directly to the opportunity on the issuing agency's procurement portal. This is where you'll:

• Download the full solicitation documents (RFP packet, specifications, drawings, etc.)
• Register as an interested vendor (required by some agencies)
• Submit your response

Important: Always download and read the full solicitation documents from the source portal before responding. The InstantMarkets listing is a summary — the official documents govern.

Attachments

Where InstantMarkets has been able to retrieve attached documents, they'll be listed in an Attachments section. Not all attachments are available on all listings.