RFI Writing & Management

In construction, a request for information (RFI) seeks the clarification of plans, drawings, specifications, and agreements. The construction RFI is a formal written process in which parties, such as the contractor and designer, clarify information gaps in construction documents.

While this process sounds straightforward, RFIs often become a source of delay, expense, conflict, and even legal claims. Therefore, all participants in construction projects have a stake in understanding how RFIs work and how to use them properly.

Construction RFIs come into play at various points in the construction process. During bidding, a contractor may submit an RFI to gain a fuller understanding of the project’s details and fine-tune a quote.