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Virtual RFP Training Course

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Better RFPs, Better Projects Course Description

Learn Industry Best Practices to Increase Project Value & Outcomes

Looking to enhance your RFPs?  Tired of the low-bid procurement process and the headaches that go with it?  Join us for this four-session, Virtual Learning Experience to enhance your purchasing toolbox. You will learn how to create better RFPs, work with your clients to develop effective Statements of Work, enhance your Proposer Submittal Protocols, and implement Evaluation Best Practices.

This course includes a digital Course Handbook with everything you need to make your next RFP great, including CPE’s key tools, guides, and templates.

Session 1: RFPs as Part of Procurement Excellence 

Description:

Writing a Request for Proposal (RFP) can be a daunting task, however, selecting the best supplier team is one of THE most important steps in delivering successful project outcomes.  This session will explain the elements that make up a “High-Performing RFP” and the importance of positioning your organization as a “Client of Choice” to attract the most qualified contractors. We share specific tips for different project types to help you approach your next RFP with confidence and ease.

Learning Objectives:

  • Identify the Five Foundations of RFP Excellence
  • Learn how to organize a High-Performing RFP (document structure, topics, and content)
  • Understand tips for different industry sectors (IT, Facilities Management, Business & Professional Services, Design & Construction, etc.)
  • Elevate your RFP practices to become a “Client of Choice”
  • Access the Center for Procurement Excellence RFP Template

Workshop: RFP Report Card 

How does your RFP rate? Receive the training, tools, and skills to review and grade your organization’s RFPs and track their quality over time. In this workshop, you will work in teams to review, assess, and discuss a variety of RFPs, including those provided by your fellow attendees. Using the CPE RFP Scorecard, you will hone your RFP review skills and be prepared to take action on your next buy.

Handouts

  • ITBs vs RFPs Reference Guide
  • RFP Examples for Internal Training
  • RFP Report Scorecard Template
  • Legislative Policy Guide: Advancing RFP Excellence
  • 5 Foundations of RFP Excellence
  • CPE Roofing RFP Template
  • Procurement Considerations for Specific Industry Sectors

 

Session 2: Developing a High-Performing Statement of Work (and Current Conditions)

Description:

Developing a clear Statement of Work (SOW) and Current Conditions can be challenging. Some SOWs are vague and lack critical details; others have requirements that are overly prescriptive or limit the ability for suppliers to bring innovative ideas. A factual Current Conditions statement will reduce your pain points and arm vendors with a better understanding of how to do the work, reduce their guesswork, and increase their accountability. 

This session will identify the surprisingly simple objective of a High-Performing SOW and Current Conditions. The core elements of a High-Performing SOW will also be shared along with tangible examples from a variety of projects (e.g., IT/Software, Design/Construction, Facilities & Operations, Business and Professional Services, and more.)

This session will identify the surprisingly simple objective of a High-Performing SOW and Current Conditions. The core elements of a High-Performing SOW will also be shared along with tangible from a variety of projects (e.g., IT/Software, Design/Construction, Facilities & Operations, Business and Professional Services, and more.)

Learning Objectives:

  • Understand How Statements of Work directly impact Supplier proposals, pricing, and performance
  • Discuss the most overlooked SOW details that Suppliers always need
  • Explain the specific content and structure of a High-Performing SOW
  • Review the Center for Procurement Excellence checklist on “Preparing a High-Performing SOW”

Workshop: The Perils of the Statement of Work: Too Much or Not Enough 

A Statement of Work (SOW) is a critical item in any RFP.  Its content should be just enough to express your needs and wants and not too much that it limits competition.  When is enough, enough and not too much? In this interactive workshop, you and your fellow attendees will work as teams of suppliers to offer proposals on a series of SOWs.  This workshop will test your abilities, make you think, and will include a lot of laughs.

Handouts and Tools Included In Your Course Handbook

    • Statement of Work Checklist
    • Releasing the Budget

Session 3: Proposal Submission Protocols & Evaluation Best Practices

Description:

We’ve all seen the job posting which seems as if it were written for a specific candidate…it’s frustrating because you don’t have a chance when the outcome is predetermined!  Unfortunately, suppliers often feel the same way about Owner RFPs and Evaluation Procedures. This session will kick off with a practical discussion on 10 specific changes that will make your next evaluation process faster, leaner, and easier. We also explain CPE’s research-based evaluation criteria and scoring recommendations. This session will close out with detailed recommendations on “Procurement Scheduling” best practices (key procurement activities and recommended timelines).  These next practices will help suppliers know that they have a fair chance to win… after all, better evaluations lead to better projects!

Learning Objectives:

    • Understand the most efficient evaluation team structure and steps
    • Learn how to conduct interviews that are focused on expertise
    • Access the Center for Procurement Excellence’s “Source Selection Plan Template”

Workshop: Navigating the Perilous Waters of Procurement Scheduling

One of the best ways to learn how to chart your procurement schedule is by actually creating one.  Every procurement has different constraints.  Do you ever find out at the last minute about a new procurement need?  How do you handle unrealistic schedule expectations?  What recommendations should you provide to your clients?  This workshop will help you address a variety of real situations and be the captain of an exceptional procurement experience.

Handouts and Tools Included In Your Course Handbook

  • Source Selection Plan Template
  • CPE’s Guide to Proposal Evaluations Ratings
  • FAQs on Proposal Evaluation Best Practices
  • Procurement Scheduling Tool

Session 4: Procurement Ethics, Conflicts of Interest, & Vendor Debriefings… Oh My!

Description:

Procurement professionals serve as ethical safeguards for their organizations.  The RFP process in particular presents many ethical challenges and “grey areas” that must be navigated with skill and care.   This session will review common conflicts of interest and ethical dilemmas that can impact the effectiveness of the RFP process.  We will discuss how ethical breaches – or even the appearance of them – can do major harm to our organizations.  Additionally, this session will discuss the importance of providing debriefings to proposing vendors as a key component of a fair, open, and transparent RFP process. We’ll explain the key items to discuss in debriefings and provide advice on handling difficult situations.

Learning Objectives:

    • Recognize the role of effective ethics training in procurement
    • Appreciate the importance of offering comprehensive debriefings to vendors
    • Leverage the fundamentals of procurement excellence in becoming a “Client of Choice”

Handouts

  • Guide to Effective Vendor Debriefings