3PL RFP Template: 12 Sections We Use With Every Client
The 12-section 3PL RFP template we use with fulfillment clients, plus the data you need organized before you start filling it out.
Most 3PL RFP templates you'll find online were written by a 3PL, which means they're built to make that 3PL look good, not to give you an apples-to-apples comparison. Here's the 3PL RFP template structure we actually use, built from real fulfillment RFPs we've run for clients.
Why a Generic RFP Template Falls Short
A template that's just a list of questions doesn't tell providers enough about your business to respond meaningfully, and it doesn't give you a consistent structure to compare what comes back. The template below pairs the sections a provider needs to write a real proposal with the categories you need to compare proposals afterward.
The 12 Sections of a Working 3PL RFP Template
- Proposal overview. What you're asking for and how you want it submitted.
- Company background. Who you are, your growth trajectory, and why this RFP exists now.
- Scope of work. What services you need: pick and pack, kitting, returns, freight, and anything else in scope.
- Geographic scope. Where your customers are and where you need coverage.
- Product info. SKU count, dimensions, weight, special handling needs.
- Order profile. Units per order, order mix, seasonality.
- Projected monthly shipments. Current volume and where you expect to be in 12 to 24 months.
- Storage and receiving forecast. How much inventory you hold and how often you receive.
- Presentation requirements. How you want proposals formatted and delivered.
- Supply network. Your current vendors, freight lanes, and any existing 3PL relationships.
- Timeline. When you need a decision and when you need to go live.
- Outcome, performance standards, and term. The SLAs you'll hold the provider to and how long the contract runs.
Two more things worth building into your 3PL RFP template from the start: a clear set of weighted selection criteria (we typically use nine factors, covering everything from pricing to technology to references), and a single point of contact on both sides, so questions don't get lost across email threads.
The Data You Need Before You Start Filling It Out
Before you can complete any of the sections above, you need your own data organized. That means:
- Company details (size, growth stage, funding)
- Current fulfillment network and requirements
- Sales channel breakdown (ecommerce, retail, Amazon)
- SKU-level detail
- Storage and receiving specifics
- Any special requirements (regulatory certifications, hazmat, temperature control)
Providers can't give you an accurate quote without this. A template that skips it produces proposals built on guesses.
What Actually Makes a Template Useful
The strongest RFPs we've seen don't just ask providers questions. They hand providers a full information package upfront: order volume history, SKU sales by region, order configuration, and growth patterns, all the things a provider would otherwise have to ask for one at a time. Instead of a back-and-forth that drags out over weeks, providers can price accurately on the first pass.
That's the difference between a template that generates paperwork and one that generates a proposal you can actually act on.
For more on facility standards to reference when building out your requirements section, the Warehousing Education and Research Council maintains benchmarking data across fulfillment operations.