PurchTips edition #413

Everything begins from a well-crafted request for proposal. After reading requests for proposals (RFPs) for over twenty years, I can confidently say that there is a common problem them: They are too long!

Knowing this, one should always write requests for proposals RFPs to get the most optimal responses from qualified suppliers. Do not write them in a way that scares off suppliers who could create value for your organization. Suppliers have limited time, too, you know!

Therefore, it is critical to ensure that all questions in your RFPs are relevant, appropriately timed and necessary. Determine if each question in your RFP should stay, be changed or be deleted.

Here are your Request for Proposal RFP Proofreading Questions:

1. Does this question apply to the procurement scenario, or was it left over from a previous RFP or RFP template?
2. Have you considered modifying a reused question to better reflect the circumstances of this specific RFP?
3. Will the answer to this question be used in evaluating and comparing suppliers?
4. If a supplier fails to respond to this question, will that supplier be disqualified from consideration?
5. Is the answer to this question required at this time, or is it more appropriate to gather the information later from a shortlist of qualified suppliers?
6. How will the sourcing team evaluate the responses to this question?
7. Do your questions apply to more than one supplier?
8. Are any questions similar enough that they can be consolidated (e.g., Do you have employees outside of the USA? If yes, how many employees do you have outside of the USA?)?
9. Has this question already been asked in the RFP? (Duplicate questions are more common than you may think!)
10. What questions should I be asking that aren’t already in the RFP?

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