Customer Reviews

Request for Proposal: A Guide to Effective RFP Development

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

There are literally hundreds of good books on proposal writing, but only a tiny handful on writing RFPs. From among the handful this book stands out for a number of reasons:

(1) It clearly described the RFP process from start to finish - and RFP development is a process with a defined life cycle.

(2) The author goes well beyond the immediate objective of writing an RFP and managing the process by including thought-provoking material on post-award vendor management. This material sometimes escapes the RFP development team who is more focused on getting to the award milestone without thinking about the post-award ramifications.

(3) It's not boring - the writing is lively, and the material is presented at a fast pace. The pace, however, does not leave gaps. Every facet of the RFP process is covered in sufficient detail.

In addition to the above, the approach set forth in this book is consistent with best practices in RFP development. I especially like the copious checklists, the RFP roadmap, and the way illustrations are skillfully used to reinforce concepts and advice.

Note that the focus of this book is information technology and software acquisition. Some of the material is unique to those domains; however, the basic principles and RFP process can be used for virtually any type of RFP, from office services to purchasing furniture.

Overall, this is the one book I recommend for RFP development. If you are an IT professional, regardless of role, the chances are you will be involved in this process at some point in your career, making this book a valuable addition to your library. If you have recently been assigned to an RFP team you should get this book as soon as possible, and use it as your compass and blueprint if your organization does not already have a formal RFP process in place.

Any organization that outsources development projects, buys package solutions, or contracts for other services will find "Request for Proposal" valuable. Filling a significant void in the literature, this book provides a wealth of practical guidance to help buyers describe their needs clearly and completely. In turn, these descriptions enable prospective vendors to prepare comprehensive and meaningful responses that will let a buyer get the best solution for its money. The book emphasizes writing RFPs for software-related projects, but the principles and practices apply to any acquisition activity.

The book addresses the process of developing RFPs and evaluating proposals. It also describes in detail the sections of a well-constructed RFP and offers guidance as to how to prepare each section. Instead of presenting a simplistic prescription, the book addresses both sides of issues that are not clear cut, such as whether to include the details of the proposal evaluation criteria in the RFP. These discussions help readers understand the various points of view so they can select for themselves the appropriate course to take in each situation. The book includes many checklists, forms, examples, and practical tips. It is clearly written, easy to read, and comprehensive.

I found this book very helpful as I developed a software subcontract management process recently. Every time I pick it up I spot another tidbit to consider adding to the process. "Request for Proposal" is a gold mine of useful ideas for anyone who has to ask vendors to describe how they propose to satisfy a buyer's requirements.

RFP Handbook is a great addition to any IT project manager's bookshelf. It is clear that the author is writing based on real-world experience. The book offers a good foundation for creating RFP's and offers practical advice that will keep you from making costly mistakes. It also provides examples and templates for writing an RFP. I wish I had this book ten years ago. I highly recommend this book for anyone who is responsible for, or contributing to, the creating of an RFP.

Mr. Porter-Roth's book is an invaluable resource for anyone challenged with the development of an RFP or responding to one. Having been involved many times on both the user's side for developing RFPs and evaluating responses and on the vendor's side responding to RFPs, one of the most valuable statements is that the RFP process is a partnership between the user organization and the responding vendors. Mr. Porter-Roth's advice for adhering to a well-defined structure of the RFP and the mandatory requirement on the vendor to respond according to the structure can save hours of confusion and frustration for purchasing and the users when evaluating RFP responses. The payback on an investment in this book will be manyfold.

I bought this book because I was to lead a group in developing an RFP but had no experience with RFP's. I don't know how this book will meet the needs of anyone with a lot of experience but I am extremely impressed by its readability, organization, and applicability. I'm still working on the project but have gotten good feedback on what I've developed, which I could not have done without the guidance and information in the book. It is logically sequenced and appears to cover all bases, though someone with a lot more experience would be better able to assess this. Impressed? Very.

I highly recommend this book if you have never written an RFP before. It is easy to follow, provides good insite into writing an RFP document, and gives adequate samples that explain the process.

How do you write an RFP? How long does it take? How much will it cost? Can you send me an example? Are there RFP software programs that you can use? How many people do I need to write it? How many vendors should I send it to? How do you evaluate proposals? These are only a few of the questions that this book answers, and why I wrote this book.

All companies, large or small, must eventually write an RFP. Since I started writing RFPs for companies, I have learned that there is very little corporate history for writing RFPs, that the players change all the time, Purchasing may or may not have a role, and that each department writes its own RFP. In other words, I have learned by doing because there were no teachers, books, or seminars.

This book provides you with the basic format, guidelines, and, in many cases, the actual materials for an RFP. The book will not write your RFP for you, but it will help you to write a better RFP, evaluate proposals, and answer many of your questions about RFPs. I wish this book had been available fifteen years ago - and now it is.

Bud Porter-Roth
Porter-Roth Associates...

The book is an easy read and provides me with the needed understanding of developing an RFP and template.

I found this book exceedingly helpful for someone who knows little about the RFP process. It provided a complete understanding of the contents and rationale behind RFP writing and would be an excellent primer for someone new to this process.

Request For Proposal is a wonderful tool for writing your first RFP. I was able to successfully write a complete RFP with this handy reference tool. The reverse calendar planning tool played an instrumental role in my project team's decision making process.

Bottom-line: If you are writing your first RFP and the stakes are high, do yourself a favorite and read this book.

Robstur