Do not ignore RFIs and RFQs. Beginners tend to fixate on RFPs because the budget and closing date are visible, but the other request types matter just as much.
An RFI (request for information) is issued while an agency is still researching or planning a project. Responding helpfully — providing the plan, codes, and scope of work the agency contact can take straight to their board for approval — builds a relationship before any formal competition exists. Once the project is approved and funded, the agency often prefers to continue with the vendor who already understands it rather than starting over, sometimes as a sole-source award, and a competitive RFP may never be issued at all.
An RFQ (request for quote) can be a simple, low-paperwork opportunity — sometimes little more than price, quantity, and delivery date.
Treat both as real opportunities, not just paperwork. The program coaches members on how to package RFI responses so the agency can act on them, which positions you as the obvious vendor when the project moves forward.