Low-torture RFPs

RFPs between nonprofits and agencies are a wondrous thing. A combination of a waltz, a bar-brawl, and a Woody Allen movie.

BeaconfireWire has some interesting advice for nonprofits on doing an RFP: I've Looked at RFPs from Both Sides Now.

The first piece of advice on RFPs is don't do it unless you're forced to. But since you very likely are forced to, here are some ways to make it go better:

• DO allow vendors a reasonable amount of time to respond.
  
• DON'T send out a 50 page RFP.
  
• DON'T forbid vendors to contact you.
  
• DO be realistic about your project time frame.
  
• DO be up front about your process and keep your prospective vendors informed.
  
• DO try to provide a ballpark budget.
  
• DON'T hide information.
  

Technorati Tag: RFP

Comments

[Ted Grigg]

The only thing I would change is to call it "RFPs = High-Torture".

I never saw anything useful coming out of the RFP exercise from either the client OR agency perspective.

I agree with you. Don't do it if you can possibly avoid it.

Better to set up an internally developed list of priorities the client team agrees to in advance and select the agency on that basis.