Fundamentals of Writing Effective RFPs: The Ultimate RFP’s Guide virtual, sheridan

OVERVIEW
Writing an RFP is a valuable skill for any professional. Indeed, when done correctly, the RFP process allows you to select the best vendor while also ensuring competitive pricing and reducing risk. RFPs have a long history in business and are widely used. As a result, understanding the RFP process and best practices is critical for success. A good RFP is as concise as possible while providing useful contextual information to vendors and asking the appropriate questions. It can be difficult to strike the right balance.

WHY SHOULD YOU ATTEND?
Well-crafted RFPs are highly personalized, clear, concise, and thoughtful. As a result, high-quality proposals are frequently submitted in response to these RFPs. However, some RFP red flags may indicate to your vendors that the project isn’t worth their time. Poorly written RFPs yield low-quality proposals. Worse, there are too few proposals to make an informed decision.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES
In this practical webinar, you’ll receive instruction on how to create RFP’s and scoring matrixes and how to avoid common pitfalls.
How to use an RFP and when an RFI is helpful.
How to draft and use a scoring matrix
How to work with and instruct a team assigned to score an RFP
How to structure the RFP Document using mandatory and technical requirements
How to evaluate cost as part of the RFP process
How to assign weighted criteria

AREAS COVERED
When Is It Appropriate to Do a Request for Proposal (RFP)?
Developing the RFP Document
Developing the Scoring Matrix
How to Avoid Pitfalls
Drafting a Contract With the Winner

About speaker
Ken Jones has been working in the public and non-profit procurement field for 30 years. He worked for the New York State Office of Taxation and Finance as a Purchasing Assistant from 1985-87 and left there to work for the University at Albany, SUNY where he served as a Purchasing Agent and in 1999 was the Assistant Director supervising and providing training for the Office of Purchasing and Contracts. This included proving training for both State procurement and The Research Foundation for SUNY procurement rules and regulations. His previous purchasing experience included procuring commodities, services, and construction for the departments on campus. A past Director of the SUNY Purchasing Association, Ken retired from the position of Assistant Director in January of 2014. However, he was requested to continue to assist the office through the end of 2014 and is again doing so. Until 2020, Ken worked part-time for the SUNY Center for International Development as a Procurement Specialist assisting primarily with training and reviewing the work of procurement staff in Nairobi, Kenya with the AHADI program in Kenya, Africa. Ken has trained many University staff on procurement rules and regulations. He established online ordering processes with vendors ranging from Office supplies to Lab chemicals and continues to provide training in his current position. Ken has presented on various procurement topics both in person and on the Web.