You did everything right. You scoured the RFP, built a solid plan, hit “submit,” and
exhaled. A week passes. Then two. You refresh your inbox so often you start to worry
about early carpal tunnel. Still nothing.

Welcome to the macabre season, when procurement spirits vanish without a trace.
You’re wondering if your proposal died a quiet death in someone’s inbox.

The Disappearing Act

First, take heart. Most RFP ghosting isn’t personal. There could be lots of reasons for
no reply: projects stall, budgets freeze, priorities shift, and evaluators go on vacation (or
quit mid-process). Procurement is a complicated manifestation. Silence is more
common than closure. However, that doesn’t make it any less haunting.

Signs You’ve Been Spooked
Ghosting comes in many forms:

• The “we’re still reviewing” autoreply that’s been running since last quarter
• The dead air after a promised “decision next week.”
• The subtle shift in tone from friendly collaborator to one-line responder.
• Eerie silence.
  
  If you’re wondering if you’ve been ghosted, more than likely, the writing is on the wall.
  
  Don’t Chase the Ghost
  
  It’s tempting to fire off follow-ups until someone breaks. Don’t. No one ever secured a
  contract by playing the email version of Paranormal Activity. A too-eager chase can turn
  an awkward silence into a hard no.
  
  Don’t shriek. Instead, sit out a spell. The silence may not be aimed at you. You could
  be in procurement purgatory.
  
  How to Reappear (Gracefully)
  
  A smart follow-up doesn’t say “Why haven’t you called?” It says, “We’re still here. Here’s
  why we are still valuable.”
  Try:
  
  
• A light, specific check-in: “I’m touching base to see if there’s any update on
  [project name]. I know timelines and priorities can shift. We are happy to adjust
  things on our end if needed.”
• A value-add note: Share a short article, case study, or stat relevant to their
  challenge. It positions you as helpful.
• A forward-looking nudge: “If this project’s held up or the scope has changed,
  we’d still like to be considered for future opportunities.”
  
  These shows confidence without being clingy. It should keep your name glowing faintly
  in their inbox instead of vanishing entirely.
  
  Lessons from the Afterlife
  Even if the deal is truly dead, every ghost story has a moral. Review your proposal. Was
  it too dense, too generic, or maybe too ambitious for their budget? Did your follow-up
  plan end at “submit”? Silence often points to something you can refine.”
  
  Besides, ghosting doesn’t always mean the end. Projects resurface months later.
  Evaluators move to new roles. A good impression lingers — like any good legend.
  
  The Final Word
  So, when potential clients vanish after an RFP, don’t panic. Light your metaphorical
  lantern, keep your communications kind and strategic, and move on. You are not
  cursed. The ones meant for you will circle back, and when they do, you be ready to
  wave your wand and show your firm’s fire and magic.
  
  After all, you are not really cursed.