Request for Proposal Process

Request for Proposal Process

The request for proposal process when trying to acquire technology, hosted solutions, or personnel or call center sourcing require a structured process that can be customized to the client’s preferences and requirements.

  • As with all well-executed projects, planning is critical to success and forms the foundation for other process elements:
  • Requirements Definition: McIntosh documents all business, technical, operational, and legal requirements and includes these requirements in the request for information, quotation, or proposal (RFI, RFQ, or RFP). Critical contractual elements should be included the requirements document to eliminate non-viable bids early in the process.
  • RFP Structure: Leveraging McIntosh’s standard RFP template, the RFP document will be customized to the client’s environment and requirements and approved by the client prior to release.
  • Potential Suppliers: McIntosh will develop a list of potential suppliers qualified to respond to the proposal. The client organization may add to or eliminate firms on the list.
  • Notices: McIntosh will distribute a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) to potential candidates requiring an executed NDA and notice of intent to bid before copies of the RFP will be released to the candidate firm.
  • RFP Management: Once issued by McIntosh, candidates will complete all required information within a two to three week timeframe returning the completed proposal to McIntosh. During the RFP management period, there will be an established process for questions to be submitted prior to the bid close date.
  • Response Evaluation: Analysis and scoring of responses and recommendation to the client of a short-list for consideration during the best and final offer (BAFO) process
  • BAFO: During the BAFO process, site visits and supplier presentations are normally scheduled. Potential suppliers must demonstrate operational capabilities and must allow site audits prior to selection.
  • Final Recommendation: Final analysis and recommendation of a potential partner, providing the client with all data analysis and insights used in the recommendation process.
  • Decision: Client selection of a preferred vendor.
  • Time requirements vary based on the project to be managed, but when sourcing services, we generally allow one to two months for final contract negotiation (non-critical elements) with requiring as little as three months or based upon scale and complexity, the implementation may be executed in waves over a one to two year period.