UserNotFound

Account Executive

Writing RFP for my customer- Need Help!

I've been asked to write the RFP for my client, it should prove fruitful because of course I'm writing one that results in only one companies ability to "check all the boxes". However I've never written an RFP for my new industry and I'm a total novice, even in my old job I never wrote the whole thing just gave the clients the "important criteria" and they would put into their template.

My boss wants me to give it a go first and then send to them for editing... I think this is a waste of a good educational opportunity to work on this together but I digress.

Any tips on how to write a solid RFP that I can use as a scaffolding in the future for similar situations? Any resources you've used before that were helpful?

😎 Sales Skills

💡 Education/Resources

🧠 Advice

12 comments

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Telehealth_2the_Moon

Notable Contributor

Director of Business Development

To confirm, the company has asked you to write the RFP for them? That's pretty awesome, means you're on the right side of someone who just needs a certain # of bids before signing, but just wanted to check.

UserNotFound

Politicker

Account Executive

Yes! I'm happy because I def have the business, but I need to write this RFP like damn baller so that I don't undermine all the work I've done up to this point... however it's really hard to write an RFP for an industry that you've never seen an RFP in (aside from this morning's google sesh).

Telehealth_2the_Moon

Notable Contributor

Director of Business Development

Yeah that is weird, going in blind. Since you've got a good relationship with the company maybe you can ask for a template or copy of one they have used in the past. You can frame it up as "to make it easy" for them rather than you not knowing how to best approach it.

Ryase1113

Opinionated

Regional Director

If you're writing it for them and are confident that you are going to get the business, my recommendation is to bury the lead and make the RFP SUPER high level. Anything that would provide insight you should do your best to leave out.

Without having any context to go on here:
1) Summary of the Proposal
2) General Requirements
3) Capability Requirements/Matrix for Participating Vendors
4) Timeline
5) Legal (you own the proposals, you're not committed to choosing any specific vendor, you reserve the right to change the RFP at any time, blah blah blah)

Hope that gives you a good starting point! But I agree with @Telehealth_2the_Moon try and grab a previously used RFP that they've sent out for a template.

UserNotFound

Politicker

Account Executive

Thank you! This is really helpful!

CuriousFox

WR Officer

🦊

I'd ask a teammate or closer to send you a copy of a RFP they submitted. Take what you can.

Make sure all of the questions are answered. Then go back and delete the fluff.

UserNotFound

Politicker

Account Executive

Unfortunately I am but a lone wolf! No teammates to lean on.

CuriousFox

WR Officer

🦊

You have no one you can get an example from? How are you supposed to answer the detailed info about your company and policies?

UserNotFound

Politicker

Account Executive

Oh, I guess I have an example of a bid response (misunderstood what you meant) but it's not for the same services, so it's hard to reverse engineer.

Blackwargreymon

Politicker

MDR

Summary of the Proposal

Clashingsoulsspell

Politicker

ISR

General Requirements

MR.StretchISR

Politicker

ISR

I'd ask a teammate or closer to send you a copy of a RFP they submitted. Take what you can. Make sure all of the questions are answered. Then go back and delete the fluff.

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UserNotFound

Writing RFP for my customer- Need Help!

12 comments

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