RFPs: A Guide to Streamline Your Process

A request for proposal (RFP) is a formal request in which the issuer asks vendors to submit proposals demonstrating how a service they offer can address the business’s needs.

The RFP process is often complex and time consuming. However, with the right approach, you can speed up the process and feel more confident about managing RFPs. Here’s a guide to helpful streamline your RFP process:

Crafting the Document

Because RFPs inform vendors about the problems they need addressed, it is important for issuers to make this document as clear as possible. RFPs should detail four elements: determine whether the vendor is going to be a long-time partner or accomplish a single initiative, explain what the issuer wants to achieve, clarify how vendors will be evaluated, and provide a wish list. The document should also feature questions for vendors to respond to.

Client Discovery

When vendors receive an RFP, it’s crucial that they respond effectively. Vendors that desire a great success rate must put in the time and effort to understand the issuer’s needs and tailor their response to address key concerns. Therefore, thorough client discovery, through brand analysis and questionnaires, allows vendors to empower a more effective RFP response. Client discovery is typically followed by preliminary evaluations, creating vendor shortlists, and in-depth evaluations.

Final Evaluation

In order for the RFP issuer to properly evaluate vendors, they should compare each vendor side by side, typically involving a strategic scoring process such as weighted scoring. After scoring the vendors, issuers should have an internal review of the scoring where they select their final vendor of choice. From here, it’s time to document the decision, as well as the go-forward process, by creating, issuing, and signing the contract.

Jerdon Enterprise knows the importance of RFPs and their process. As an experienced civil engineering company, we always strive to be the vendor of choice through our industry knowledge, loyalty and commitment.

For your next project, contact Jerdon today.