Natural Language Processing (NLP) is widely used to solve several tasks in different construction fields. However, there are no applications related to the predesign phase. Analysing the Italian public design call for tender procedure, possible information criticalities can be identified. The study proposes a formalization, from a System Engineering (SE) perspective, of the implementation of an NLP-based system in the pre-design phase of an Italian public procedure. SE focuses on the formalization of main stakeholders, system values and functions via IDEF0, Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP), and Quality Function Deployment (QFD).