Request-for-proposals (RFP) are documents in IT tendering that

define the selection criteria, evaluation procedures and system

requirements including system usability. IT vendors’ perspective

on RFP-originated system configuration and usability design is

less studied than of IT procuring organizations. Analysis of

empirical data collected from large IT tendering shows that from

the vendor’s perspective the objectives and means of usability

design during the tendering differ drastically from general

usability work. During the tendering, the fundamentals of

usability recommendations can be based solely on the

requirements of RFPs with no adequate intention to improve

system usability in the use context. An ethical analysis of the

situation and possible futures and alternatives is represented.