12 (more) RFP Do’s and Don’ts: Guidelines & Expectations

Don’t: Be stingy with your time and expect the vendors to fill in all the gaps

Do: Accommodate requests for pre-response calls and meetings whenever possible

Don’t: Set overly aggressive datesfor key RFP milestones

Do: Target a reasonable RFP schedule, both for you and the vendors.

Don’t: Be overly prescriptive with requirements that dive deep into the details of how theywill be met

Do: Be as detailed as possible in focusing on goals and high-level aims

Don’t: Save decisions about attributes and metrics for later; put them in your RFP!

Do: When crafting your RFP, identify what metrics and

attributes you’ll be looking for in

responses.

Don’t: Prematurely discard proposals upon discovering discrepancies in what you were expecting and what you received

Do: Focus on these discrepancies as opportunities to learn more

Don’t: Ignore the power of feedback to improve both your approach or the vendor’s to writing and answering RFPs

Do: Seek feedback on your process and reap the benefits of bi-directional transparency, which will make help improve

the approach of both parties