This paper presents a novel teaching technique that uses a "Request for Proposal" (RFP) as a design tool to add practical real-world engineering design experience in upper level electrical and computer engineering courses. Design examples and student survey responses from a Computer Architecture and Computer Networks course are described. RFPs are used in government and industry for nearly all engineering development contracts. The RFP specifications used in the courses are adapted from actual equipment specifications used in the procurement of major system development, such as a redundant air traffic control computer system and a digital telephony switch. Teams are chosen by the instructor and, as far as practical, contain equal numbers of Computer Science, EE students, graduates, and undergraduates.
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