What to include in a commercial cleaning RFP

A request for proposal only works when it scopes the building clearly. Use this list to describe the work, the frequency, and the standards a commercial cleaning vendor needs before they can put an honest proposal together.

• Scope every space by type and square footage Offices, restrooms, breakrooms, lobbies, and any medical or lab areas each carry different standards.
• State the cleaning frequency you expect per area Nightly, several times a week, weekly, or a mix — say which applies where.
• List the periodic work separately from the recurring scope Floor care, carpet extraction, and high dusting run on their own calendar, not every visit.
• Name your security and access requirements Badging, alarm codes, key handling, and background-check expectations for the crew.
• Specify the insurance and licensing you require General liability, workers' compensation, and bonding, with certificates before the first visit.
• Ask how the vendor staffs and supervises the account Whether the same lead cleaner returns each visit and how quality is checked.
• Define how issues are reported and resolved The response time for a missed area and the channel you will use to flag it.
• Request references from comparable buildings Accounts of similar size and type, ideally in the same region.