| RFP is short for Request for
Proposal... a process in which you survey vendors to solicit
competitive bids on
products and services.
An RFP should include information about your
organization and project as well as questions that elicit differences
among competing companies. Question types should include both
"Yes/No" type responses as well as open-ended text
questions.
An RFP should also solicit cost quotes that allow
you to determine both initial and ongoing costs of the product or
service.
Before you create your RFP, take time to think of
how you plan to evaluate the responses. It is far easier to create an
RFP than to analyze multiple proposals in disparate formats. That's why
many organizations use an automated RFP software tool, such as the
ON-LINE
CONSULTANT, which creates a uniform response method and
automatically analyzes vendors' proposals. |
