The verdict in three sentences
A well-run RFP objectifies the choice and halves the risk. The typical weighted grid puts 45% on expertise and references, 20% on price, and the rest on methodology, maintenance/SLA and accessibility/GDPR. For a mid-market site, expect bids of 20,000 to 70,000 EUR and reject responses with no commitment on exit clauses and code ownership.
The 2026 weighted scoring grid
| Criterion | Weight | What you assess |
|---|---|---|
| Technical expertise | 25% | Stack, performance, security, samples |
| Sector references | 20% | Comparable cases, quantified results |
| Price | 20% | Total cost: build + 3 years maintenance |
| Methodology / plan | 15% | Phases, milestones, governance |
| Maintenance / SLA | 10% | Response times, guarantees |
| Accessibility / GDPR | 10% | WCAG, compliance |
| Total | 100% | Score out of 100 |
Expected price ranges for mid-market
| Project type | Range | Annual maintenance |
|---|---|---|
| Corporate brochure redesign | 20,000 – 35,000 EUR | 3,000 – 8,000 EUR |
| Multilingual site + integrations | 35,000 – 55,000 EUR | 6,000 – 12,000 EUR |
| Complex platform / portal | 55,000 – 70,000 EUR+ | 10,000 – 20,000 EUR |
| Design system + multi-site | 60,000 – 90,000 EUR+ | 15,000 – 25,000 EUR |
Red flags and questions to ask
| Red flag in the response | Question to ask |
|---|---|
| Opaque fixed price, no breakdown | Break down the pricing by phase |
| No mention of code ownership | Is the source code transferred? |
| No exit clause | How do we retrieve the site? |
| Vague maintenance, no timings | What response SLAs are guaranteed? |
| Unverifiable references | A reachable client contact? |
| Undisclosed subcontracting | Who actually builds it? |
Mini case study
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Nadia, procurement lead at a 400-staff industrial mid-market firm in Strasbourg, receives 5 responses for the multilingual corporate redesign. On her grid, a 38,000 EUR bid scores 82/100 (strong expertise and references, clear maintenance), a cheaper 29,000 EUR bid scores 61/100 (no exit clause, murky subcontracting). She picks the 38,000 EUR offer. The 9,000 EUR gap pays back in year one: the exit clause and transferred code save her an estimated 5,000-6,000 EUR takeover cost and a vendor lock-in risk.
FAQ
How do I weight price without overpaying? Cap price at 20-25% of the score and assess total 3-year cost (build + maintenance), not just build. The lowest bid often hides takeover costs.
What are the major red flags? No code-ownership clause, maintenance without response times, unverifiable references and undisclosed subcontracting. Each should drop the score.
What range for a mid-market site in 2026? From 20,000 EUR for a corporate brochure redesign to 70,000 EUR+ for a complex portal, excluding multi-site design systems which exceed 60,000-90,000 EUR.
Should I assess accessibility? Yes, especially for an exposed mid-market firm: put 10% on accessibility (WCAG) and GDPR. An included audit is a sign of seriousness.
How many vendors should I invite? 3 to 5 is enough for a useful comparison. Beyond that, analysis becomes time-consuming with no quality gain.
Let's scope your project. Send us your RFP brief: we'll respond with detailed per-phase pricing, code ownership transferred and guaranteed SLAs. Detailed quote within 48 h. WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.
