What's in the template
Section 1Project context — your business, current state, problem statement.
Section 2Scope of work — must-haves vs nice-to-haves; in-scope vs out-of-scope.
Section 3Timeline expectations — kickoff date, milestones, launch.
Section 4Budget envelope — give a range; honesty saves both sides time.
Section 5Selection criteria — what you'll evaluate (portfolio, references, price, fit).
Section 6Required submissions — what they should send (proposal, references, contract draft).
Section 7Q&A timeline — how long they have to ask questions.
Section 8Decision date — when you'll communicate selection.