The RFP Process

Requirements publication is not merely a matter of putting down the information which has been gathered and deconflicted. The information needs to be conveyed in a manner which is clear and understandable to potential vendors. A suggested format is provided in the style section. One of the key elements of this format is the use of requirements tagging.

Requirements tagging provides an aid both to the solicitor and to the vendor. Tags should be placed on each individual requirement. This allows both the vendor and the solicitor to track whether each requirement has been met. If the vendors label their responses with the same tags, the solicitor can quickly reference where the requirements are met. At the same time, the act of tagging each requirement ensures that no seemingly small obscure requirements are overlooked. This ensures the vendors that their solution is comprehensive to the needs of the publisher.

In addition to the actual requirements being solicited, the publisher needs to provide such additional information as how to submit responses, timelines, and other items of importance.