{"id":11005,"date":"2021-03-29T10:58:37","date_gmt":"2021-03-29T14:58:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.certitrek.com\/nlpa\/?page_id=11005"},"modified":"2023-09-18T10:05:00","modified_gmt":"2023-09-18T14:05:00","slug":"rfp-format","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.certitrek.com\/nlpa\/news\/purchasing-articles\/rfp-format\/","title":{"rendered":"RFP Format"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><div class=\"fusion-fullwidth fullwidth-box fusion-builder-row-1 fusion-flex-container nonhundred-percent-fullwidth non-hundred-percent-height-scrolling\" style=\"--awb-border-radius-top-left:0px;--awb-border-radius-top-right:0px;--awb-border-radius-bottom-right:0px;--awb-border-radius-bottom-left:0px;--awb-padding-top:50px;--awb-padding-bottom:50px;\" ><div class=\"fusion-builder-row fusion-row fusion-flex-align-items-flex-start\" style=\"max-width:1144px;margin-left: calc(-4% \/ 2 );margin-right: calc(-4% \/ 2 );\"><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column fusion-builder-column-0 fusion_builder_column_1_1 1_1 fusion-flex-column\" style=\"--awb-bg-size:cover;--awb-width-large:100%;--awb-margin-top-large:0px;--awb-spacing-right-large:1.92%;--awb-margin-bottom-large:20px;--awb-spacing-left-large:1.92%;--awb-width-medium:100%;--awb-order-medium:0;--awb-spacing-right-medium:1.92%;--awb-spacing-left-medium:1.92%;--awb-width-small:100%;--awb-order-small:0;--awb-spacing-right-small:1.92%;--awb-spacing-left-small:1.92%;\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-column-has-shadow fusion-flex-justify-content-flex-start fusion-content-layout-column\"><div class=\"fusion-title title fusion-title-1 fusion-sep-none fusion-title-text fusion-title-size-three\"><h3 class=\"title-heading-left fusion-responsive-typography-calculated\" style=\"margin:0;--fontSize:32;line-height:1.3;\">Your RFP Format: Why It Matters<\/h3><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column fusion-builder-column-1 fusion_builder_column_1_1 1_1 fusion-flex-column\" style=\"--awb-bg-size:cover;--awb-width-large:100%;--awb-margin-top-large:0px;--awb-spacing-right-large:1.92%;--awb-margin-bottom-large:20px;--awb-spacing-left-large:1.92%;--awb-width-medium:100%;--awb-order-medium:0;--awb-spacing-right-medium:1.92%;--awb-spacing-left-medium:1.92%;--awb-width-small:100%;--awb-order-small:0;--awb-spacing-right-small:1.92%;--awb-spacing-left-small:1.92%;\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-column-has-shadow fusion-flex-justify-content-flex-start fusion-content-layout-column\"><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-1\"><p>PurchTips edition #359<\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"fusion-title title fusion-title-2 fusion-sep-none fusion-title-text fusion-title-size-four\" style=\"--awb-margin-bottom:0px;\"><h4 class=\"title-heading-left fusion-responsive-typography-calculated\" style=\"margin:0;--fontSize:24;line-height:1.36;\">Why Should You Care About Your RFP Format?<\/h4><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column fusion-builder-column-2 fusion_builder_column_1_1 1_1 fusion-flex-column\" style=\"--awb-bg-size:cover;--awb-width-large:100%;--awb-margin-top-large:0px;--awb-spacing-right-large:1.92%;--awb-margin-bottom-large:20px;--awb-spacing-left-large:1.92%;--awb-width-medium:100%;--awb-order-medium:0;--awb-spacing-right-medium:1.92%;--awb-spacing-left-medium:1.92%;--awb-width-small:100%;--awb-order-small:0;--awb-spacing-right-small:1.92%;--awb-spacing-left-small:1.92%;\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-column-has-shadow fusion-flex-justify-content-flex-start fusion-content-layout-column\"><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-2\"><p><strong>NLPA Member Question: Are there any limits for the RFP size or it will depend on the scope of work?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The ideal format of an RFP will vary based upon the situation. You should have two goals for your RFP: (1) maximizing competition, and (2) getting your \u201cbest fit\u201d suppliers to respond. A poorly formatted RFP can cause you to fall short of those two goals by failing to get enough of the right suppliers to respond. An RFP that is too long has the \u201cscare factor\u201d that scares suppliers away from investing the time to respond.<\/p>\n<p>Therefore, you should focus on making your RFP\u2019s as concise as practical. This can be done by NOT including:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Requests for information that is not truly needed<\/li>\n<li>Redundant or conflicting verbiage<\/li>\n<li>Requests for information that is only needed from short listed suppliers and can be requested later<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>For comparison, the RFP template available in the<a href=\"https:\/\/lms.nextlevelpurchasing.com\">\u00a0NLPA Library<\/a>\u00a0has four pages plus a cover page and two exhibits.<\/p>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>NLPA Member Question: You have said that the \u201cscare factor\u201d not only applies to RFP\u2019s, but to purchase orders, and supplier registration forms, too. What is the scare factor of a PO?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>I\u2019ve been seeing a lot of purchase orders containing way too many terms and conditions. I have seen purchase orders exceed a dozen pages, even though they were orders for the simplest products and services. This can cause delayed delivery of products or performance of services as suppliers will often seek legal review of the terms and conditions and negotiate terms with which they are unwilling to comply. In addition, suppliers can decline to do business with you. Extended terms and conditions should only be used when appropriate and not in every situation.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-fullwidth fullwidth-box fusion-builder-row-2 fusion-flex-container fusion-parallax-none nonhundred-percent-fullwidth non-hundred-percent-height-scrolling\" style=\"--awb-border-radius-top-left:0px;--awb-border-radius-top-right:0px;--awb-border-radius-bottom-right:0px;--awb-border-radius-bottom-left:0px;--awb-padding-top:50px;--awb-padding-bottom:50px;--awb-background-color:#f3f7fa;--awb-background-image:linear-gradient(180deg, rgba(0,0,0,0.74) 0%,rgba(0,0,0,0.74) 100%),url(https:\/\/www.certitrek.com\/nlpa\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/10\/join-footer.jpg);;--awb-background-size:cover;\" ><div class=\"fusion-builder-row fusion-row fusion-flex-align-items-flex-start\" style=\"max-width:1144px;margin-left: calc(-4% \/ 2 );margin-right: calc(-4% \/ 2 );\"><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column fusion-builder-column-3 fusion_builder_column_2_3 2_3 fusion-flex-column\" style=\"--awb-bg-size:cover;--awb-width-large:66.666666666667%;--awb-margin-top-large:0px;--awb-spacing-right-large:2.88%;--awb-margin-bottom-large:20px;--awb-spacing-left-large:2.88%;--awb-width-medium:100%;--awb-order-medium:0;--awb-spacing-right-medium:1.92%;--awb-spacing-left-medium:1.92%;--awb-width-small:100%;--awb-order-small:0;--awb-spacing-right-small:1.92%;--awb-spacing-left-small:1.92%;\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-column-has-shadow fusion-flex-justify-content-flex-start fusion-content-layout-column\"><div class=\"fusion-title title fusion-title-3 fusion-sep-none fusion-title-text fusion-title-size-three\" style=\"--awb-text-color:#ffffff;\"><h3 class=\"title-heading-left fusion-responsive-typography-calculated\" style=\"margin:0;--fontSize:32;line-height:1.3;\">Want to get more procurement articles by email?<\/h3><\/div><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-3\" style=\"--awb-text-color:#ffffff;\"><p>Members of the NLPA get great articles just like this by email every month. As a member, you will also get access to:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>The Procurement Training &amp; Certification Starter Kit<\/li>\n<li>The latest Purchasing &amp; Supply Management Salaries Report<\/li>\n<li>Leading-Edge Supply Management\u2122 magazine<\/li>\n<li>Live webinars<\/li>\n<li>Access of Purchasing Community<\/li>\n<li>Access of NLPA BLogs<\/li>\n<li>Access of Library (Webinar Replays, Procurement Templates &amp; More)<\/li>\n<li>Access to All 20 Express Courses worth $380.00<\/li>\n<li>And more!<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column fusion-builder-column-4 fusion_builder_column_1_3 1_3 fusion-flex-column\" style=\"--awb-padding-top:40px;--awb-padding-right:40px;--awb-padding-bottom:40px;--awb-padding-left:40px;--awb-overflow:hidden;--awb-bg-color:#ffffff;--awb-bg-size:cover;--awb-border-radius:10px 10px 10px 10px;--awb-width-large:33.333333333333%;--awb-margin-top-large:0px;--awb-spacing-right-large:10;--awb-margin-bottom-large:20px;--awb-spacing-left-large:10;--awb-width-medium:100%;--awb-order-medium:0;--awb-spacing-right-medium:1.92%;--awb-spacing-left-medium:1.92%;--awb-width-small:100%;--awb-order-small:0;--awb-spacing-right-small:1.92%;--awb-spacing-left-small:1.92%;\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-column-has-shadow fusion-flex-justify-content-flex-start fusion-content-layout-column\"><div class=\"fusion-title title fusion-title-4 fusion-sep-none fusion-title-center fusion-title-text fusion-title-size-four\"><h4 class=\"title-heading-center fusion-responsive-typography-calculated\" style=\"margin:0;--fontSize:24;line-height:1.36;\">Over 196,482 purchasing professionals have joined the Next Level Purchasing Association!\u00a0So, what are you waiting for?<\/h4><\/div><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-4\"><p style=\"text-align: center\">Sign up today and enjoy access all of the benefits that come with the NLPA Premium membership.<\/p>\n<\/div><div style=\"text-align:center;\"><a class=\"fusion-button button-flat fusion-button-default-size button-default fusion-button-default button-1 fusion-button-default-span fusion-button-default-type\" style=\"--button_margin-top:10px;\" target=\"_self\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mcssl.com\/SecureCart\/ViewCart.aspx?mid=C9984911-58E0-475B-92F3-F295C53273E7&amp;sctoken=beb724cbf8ef4c9685bd79325366556f&amp;bhjs=1&amp;bhqs=1\"><span class=\"fusion-button-text\">Sign Up<\/span><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":0,"parent":7514,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"100-width.php","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-11005","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v19.4 (Yoast SEO v19.13) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>RFP Format: What it Matters - Purchasing Article - NLPA<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Should you care about your RFP format? 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