Solution
RFI & Submittal Management Software
On most small jobs, RFIs and submittals live in email. A question goes to the engineer of record in one thread, a product datasheet goes out in another, and the answers come back whenever they come back. Three weeks later nobody can say which version of a submittal was approved, whether an RFI answer ever changed the scope, or what is still waiting on a reviewer. The paperwork isn’t hard — losing track of it is.
What RFI and submittal software actually has to do
Log every request with who it went to and when, track the response back from the engineer of record, and keep the answer attached to the job instead of buried in an inbox. For submittals, it also has to help build the package itself — the marked-up product data, organized and indexed so a reviewer can find what they need. And it has to be clear which of the two you’re filing, because they behave differently on a job: an RFI is a question that can hold up work, a submittal is a proposal that holds up one installation. See RFI vs. Submittal for the plain-language difference.
How PoPs Suite handles it
RFIs, submittals, and change orders all run through PoPs APM (Assistant Project Manager), the connected layer inside PoPs Project Tracker. Real answers are tracked back from the engineer of record on RFIs, and submittals are prepared for engineer approval with a real markup tool and an indexed, hyperlinked package, rather than a pile of PDFs in a folder.
When a submittal needs redlines, stamps, or callouts before it goes out, PoPs Markup is wired directly into the same workflow, with an audit trail of what was marked up and when. And because the paperwork lives in the same system as the money, an RFI answer that changes the scope can lead straight into a change order that updates the job’s budget — without re-entering anything.
Related reading
- Change Order Management Software — What happens when an answer changes the scope.
- Blueprint Markup Software — Marking up submittals before they go to the engineer.
- Bid, Price, and Manage Construction Jobs in One Platform — The job record the paperwork sits inside.
Who this is for
- Project Managers — Keeping RFIs and submittals moving and on the record.
- General Contractors — Managing paperwork across several active jobs.
FAQ
What’s the difference between an RFI and a submittal?
An RFI is a question about something unclear in the drawings or specs. A submittal is a proposal — documentation of a product or method sent to the engineer of record for approval before it’s installed.
Where do RFIs and submittals live in PoPs Suite?
In PoPs APM, inside PoPs Project Tracker, alongside change orders and the job’s budget, rather than in a separate tool or email thread.
Can I mark up a submittal before sending it?
Yes — PoPs Markup is wired into the submittal workflow, and submittals are prepared with an indexed, hyperlinked package.
What if an RFI answer changes the scope?
It can lead to a change order in the same system, and once approved, the cost pushes into the budget and forecast automatically.