To protect the public interest as well as ensure fairness, there are certain standards and requirements that apply to an architect or firm participating in a Request for Proposals or similar project procurement process. There are also standards for various forms of architectural competition.
For more information, consult Schedule A: Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct of the AIBC Bylaws, specifically section 7.0 Architectural Services: Architectural Competitions, Schedules of Architectural Services.