TIPS FOR A SUCCESSFUL PROPOSAL AND BID PROCESS

The following minimum information should be included in a request for proposal:

• project overview

• analysis of site and anticipated audience needs

• functional requirements

• technical requirements

• scheduling requirements

• performance criteria

Do:

• Consider the fit with your potential partner in the client contractor relationship.

• Describe in detail and comprehensively what you want in a site, using plain language and no technical smokescreens.

• Be as brief as possible, while still covering all the major points, and write with clarity.

• Write an RFP that reads like a good business plan, presenting expected outcomes, willingness to invest, and technology resources.

• Align the effort required to respond to the RFP to the size and scope of the project.

• Get at least a ballpark estimate of the budget and timeline before responding to an RFP.

• Get whatever other information is reasonable from the other party before responding to an RFP or evaluating a response.

• Know when to walk away.

Don t:

• Be overly restrictive in RFP requirements.

• Present bleeding-edge features as requirements.

• Assume that big companies will work only with big development houses; or small companies with small houses.

• Ask for free consulting from a developer.

• Be in any way unethical or dishonest in using RFPs, such as writing specs that only one supplier can fulfill but sending them to others for the sake of appearances.

• Send RFPs to an overly large pool sending a few recommended vendors is sufficient and actually as many as a client can reasonably handle if vendors...