Before Stage 3, what must be submitted?

• A. Budget approval
• B. Final contract signature
• C. RFP for review
• D. Technical readiness check

Answer: (C)

This question tests the procurement gating process, where an RFP is submitted before moving into the next stage to gather vendor proposals. An RFP, or Request for Proposal, lays out the project requirements, evaluation criteria, and timelines, inviting vendors to submit proposals. Having an RFP in place before Stage 3 provides a structured set of options to review, enabling objective comparison and an informed decision about which vendor to advance with. Budget approval is typically a separate financial gate and often occurs early, while final contract signature happens after a vendor is chosen and terms are negotiated. A technical readiness check assesses feasibility of the proposed solution, but it doesn’t supply the range of vendor proposals needed to evaluate options before Stage 3.