Businessolver has recently released a white paper about writing a request for proposal (RFP).

The key to crafting an RFP is to make it “meaningful” and “thorough,” and the outcome could very well be the precursor to a healthy relationship with the vendor. That creates a two-way street wherein potential service providers should be given the background information before they deliver details on how their products or services can be on par with what you need.

The basic background data should include company information and background, current benefits state, desired future state, and service and communication expectations. The RFP should also include key milestone dates, the criteria that will be evaluated, and a Q&A timeframe.

To summarize, it outlines three core areas: showing the details, providing key facts of the company, and addressing any additional questions about service offerings.