Why the quality of your RfP really matters

Recently, a major organization invited me to respond to its sustainability assurance RfP. The scope was strong and aligned with the type of work our teams deliver every day. But the request itself focused on the wrong things: rigid templates, formatting rules, pricing spreadsheets and generic corporate disclosures.

None of those elements help organizations choose the right assurance partner.
What does matter is clarity, relevance and insight.

A well‑designed RfP gives assurance providers the information they need to propose a high‑quality, credible and efficient assurance approach, the very thing your stakeholders expect.

Below are the practical steps every organization should consider before issuing a sustainability or ESG assurance tender.

1. Focus on what you need, not how you want it presented

The golden rule of a great RfP is simple:
Tell us what matters, not how to write the document.

Strict templates and page limits may feel like governance discipline, but they rarely improve the quality of responses. Experienced assurance providers already know what needs to be covered:

  • Understanding of your scope
  • Proposed methodology
  • Timeline and milestones
  • Team and relevant experience
  • Commercial terms

Letting the provider present this in the clearest and most useful format gives you the best basis for comparison, and often reveals the provider’s clarity of thinking.

2. Invite the right assurance providers

The most important decision you make in the RfP process isn’t the template.

  • It’s who you invite - If credible assurance and stakeholder confidence matter, then selecting providers with deep ESG and assurance expertise should be the priority.

When evaluating potential participants, look for providers who demonstrate:

  • Proven ESG and sustainability expertise - Assuring ESG metrics, climate disclosures and sustainability KPIs requires technical depth and cross‑sector experience.
  • Strong independence and credibility - Investors and regulators expect robust quality systems, consistency and defensible assurance opinions.
  • Global capability with local insight - Multinational organizations need consistent methodologies, supported by teams who understand regional reporting requirements.
  • Experience with your frameworks - GHG Protocol, CDP, CSRD/ESRS, TCFD, ISSB, sector‑specific KPIs. Your provider should work fluently with the frameworks you use.
  • The ability to scale to your maturity - Early‑stage data systems require different assurance approaches than mature ones.
  • A balanced team - You need sustainability specialists and assurance practitioners. Not one or the other.

3. Keep the corporate background light, focus instead on your sustainability systems

Assurance providers can easily find corporate history online.
What we can't find, and what we need, is detail on:

  • the maturity of your data systems
  • internal ownership of specific datasets
  • methodologies you’ve adopted
  • known challenges or areas of judgement
  • planned changes in systems or reporting frameworks

This information is essential to tailoring an effective assurance approach.

4. Include the essentials every assurance provider needs

If you include nothing else, make sure your RfP clearly communicates the following:

  • Metrics to be assured - Be specific (list out the climate, waste, water, safety, diversity or any other ESG KPIs you’d like covered).
  • Reporting period(s) - Full year, mid‑year, multi‑year cycles?
  • Where results will be disclosed - Annual report, standalone sustainability/ESG report, website, CDP submission?
  • Publication timeline - This sets the assurance timetable and determines resource planning.
  • Data maturity - Early‑stage, evolving or well‑established systems?
  • Organizational boundary - What’s in scope? What’s excluded? Any JVs, subsidiaries or geographies to consider?
  • Your assurance experience - First‑time assurance or seasoned process? Both are fine, but the approach differs.

Final thoughts

A great RfP isn’t about perfect formatting.
It’s about giving assurance providers the insight needed to design the right approach, assemble the right team and deliver credible assurance your stakeholders can trust.

Clear, relevant information leads to stronger proposals, and ultimately, stronger assurance.

Thinking about assurance for the first time, or looking for a fresh approach?

Whether you're starting your first assurance cycle or seeking a more effective, collaborative model, we’d be happy to help.

We’re here to help you build a process that’s credible, efficient and aligned to your organization’s sustainability ambitions.