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RFIs — Requests for Information

The formal, documented question. Raise one the moment a query appears rather than letting it stall the works.

An RFI (Request for Information) is a formal question raised on site — to the client, designer or consultant — that needs a written answer. It's how you turn "I'm not sure what they meant here" into a documented decision instead of a guess that costs money later.

Raising one​

  1. From the project, open New RFI.
  2. Enter the subject and a clear description of the question.
  3. Set the priority: LOW / MEDIUM / HIGH / URGENT.
  4. Set the due date — when a response is needed.
  5. Assign it to a team member to own the follow-up.
  6. Save — the RFI is OPEN.

Lifecycle​

OPEN → RESPONDED → CLOSED

When an answer comes in, open the RFI, add the response, and move it to RESPONDED or CLOSED. RFIs that are past their due date and still OPEN show in red on the dashboard.

Why it matters to a PM​

  • Raise early. A question that sits in your head doesn't stop the clock; an open RFI does, and it puts the decision where it belongs — with the client or consultant.
  • Document the impact. If the answer changes cost or time, that's the seed of a variation order — link them.
  • Don't let them rot. Overdue RFIs are delays waiting to be blamed on you. Chase them.