WHAT SHOULD RFP CONTAIN?

                                          WHAT SHOULD RFP CONTAIN?

 It should contain a description of the requirement or problem desired outcome or hint  solution the client is looking out.

 It should contain well-defined scope of work for the vendor

                                          RFP may give number of points

• Assets the vendor should have 
• Quality criteria that can lead to selection of the vendor ( for selection and sign off) 
• The quality of services that will lead to sign off the project. 
• Many times RFP contains proposed RFP stages, so many times projects of longer duration are broken down into multiple stages so that the RFP could identify the stages and the ‘milestones’ when the stages are expected to be completed. 
• For technically complex projects an RFP may even mention the expected qualification of the team member or human resource that would be allocated to the project.

A number of times RFP gives the proposed schedule for bidding process so it may say that on day one RFP was floated and by Day 5 organisation expects a reply from the vendor saying that whether they are interested in that particular bid or not. If yes, they may be asked to give more information or the client is willing to give more information to the questions from the vendors so that there could be a date identified for that.There could be date identified for accepting the proposals, studying the proposals and even giving the opportunity to the vendors to give proposal presentation.

All the process involved in bidding process may be identified with a specific date.

This helps just not the client but vendor to plan likewise.

RFP may give an idea about proposed payment details whether the client is going to give advance money. What percentage of money will be paid to what milestone or what delivery and so on?

An RFP may give the hint of proposed tenders and conditions of the actual contract.

Ex: If there is a delay from the vendor side, will there be a penalty? If yes, what would be the percentage of penalty and how would it be deducted?

The RFP may talk about the key risks involved in the project and how the client expects vendors to mitigate those risks and so on...