5 Tips to Modernize your RFP Process
Exygy
and Ashley Meyers
from SF Digital Services
with
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Ashley Meyers
City and County of San Francisco
Digital Services
Zach Berke
Exygy
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RFP Modernization Tip #1
Be Modest:
Define the Project Plan
Based Only on What You Really Know
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RFP Modernization Tip #2
Be Cool:
Get Good Vendors Interested
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RFP Modernization Tip #3
Be Smart:
Setup your Project for Success
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RFP Modernization Tip #4
Be Picky:
Evaluation Methodology is Critical
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RFP Modernization Tip #5
Be Thoughtful:
Plan for the Future
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Modest, Cool, Smart, Picky, Thoughtful RFPs...
… Define the Project Based Only on What You Really Know
… Get Good Vendors Interested
Procurement = Recruitment. If you want great folks, you gotta sell it! Emphasize the impact and the challenge. Provide a clear and agile RFP response timeline. Procure like it’s 2018. Be flexible about what needs to be in person and what can be virtual
… Setup the Project for Success
Go modular. Write your requirements in pencil, especially as the time horizon gets further out. Understand how user-centered and agile development work. Budget and scope to include user research and testing. Build the right team internally
… Use innovative Evaluation Methodology
Ask for a demonstration of high quality work, not high quality narrative. Look for markers of excellence.
Are you going to do off the shelf or custom? Will you be interviewing users before you write your RFP or do you need your vendor to do all user research and discovery? How much do you know about what you’re going to build in the first 3mo? 6mo? 12mo? Be honest with yourself especially as the time horizon gets further out. Have you figured out how much staff you will need during the initial design and build phase? How much staff you’ll need once the vendor rolls off?
If you don’t know the answers to a lot of these questions, consider doing a Phase I (“Discovery” or “Research”) procurement first.
… Plan for the Future
Have a long term plan for when the vendor partner rolls off. Budget for additional staff with new skills. Consider having your vendor help you source, vet, and hire.
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Thanks!
Additional resources:
Our Contact Info:
Some RFPs we like:�DAHLIA: http://exy.gy/lgsC �What we like:
CWDS: https://cwds.ca.gov/vendors
What we like:
Alaska: https://github.com/18F/alaska-child-welfare
What we like:
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